Trump says Kim responded to his request for a conversation, the United States president told reporters Monday, describing the exchange as very positive while offering no details.
Asked in the Oval Office why North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had not replied to his outreach, he responded, “How do you know he hasn’t responded?” When pressed, he said, “Yeah, he has.” There was no immediate comment from North Korea.
The remarks came a day after the president directed the Pentagon to substantially reduce joint military exercises with South Korea, a longstanding US ally. In a post on his Truth Social account, he called the annual drills costly and said they send an inappropriate and hostile signal to a country that, during his presidency, has been unthreatening and respectful. He also linked the decision to what he described as Seoul’s refusal to assist the United States and Israel in the war on Iran.
Trump says Kim responded amid dispute over South Korea’s Iran stance
On Monday, the president renewed criticism of South Korea’s position on the Iran war. He noted the United States stations about 39,000 troops in South Korea to deter threats from Kim and questioned why Seoul would not support what he called a very easy military operation in Iran. He broadened that message to NATO members that have not contributed to the Iran campaign, saying the United States cannot protect countries that are not there to help.
South Korean officials said the exercises proceeded as planned and expressed hope that the personal rapport between Trump and Kim could help restart talks. On Tuesday, Seoul’s presidential office said the drills do not reflect any intention to attack North Korea or escalate tensions on the Korean Peninsula. President Lee Jae Myung reiterated that their fundamental purpose is to safeguard the safe and peaceful daily lives of the people, not to single out an adversary, according to his office.
Trump’s dealings with Kim have drawn less emphasis from the White House than during his first term, when the leaders met and exchanged letters. Talks collapsed in 2019 over Pyongyang’s nuclear program, but the president has continued to signal interest in reviving direct diplomacy. Last year, Kim’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, said the personal relationship between the two was not bad, while warning that relying on personal ties to end North Korea’s nuclear program would invite mockery.
‘I understand him’
Since their last meeting in 2019, North Korea has tightened relations with Russia and maintained close ties with China. North Korean forces have fought alongside Russia in its invasion of Ukraine, and Kyiv said last week that North Korean-made missiles were used in a Russian ballistic strike on a steel plant in Zaporizhzhia.
The administration has repeatedly criticized North Korea’s military support for Russia, yet on Monday the president said Kim has always treated him with great respect, adding, “I understand him. He understands me.”
Analysts said another Trump-Kim meeting remains possible despite Pyongyang’s cooler stance and Kim’s stronger position since their last summit. Victor Cha, who leads the Korea program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, said he doubted North Korea would respond immediately. “I think they’re going to bide their time and wait a little bit,” he told Reuters, adding that the president’s renewed focus on North Korea appeared aimed in part at shifting attention from challenges tied to the Iran war, even as he remains interested in seeing Kim again.
His renewed focus on North Korea follows earlier episodes, including when Trump’s Oval Office vaccine announcement drew widespread online reactions.