Trump Seeks Another Meeting with Kim Jong Un to Persuade Him to Give Up Nuclear Weapons

Donald Trump has asked his aides to begin preparations for a new meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The US president is trying to revive one of the boldest and most controversial initiatives of his first term: persuading Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear program.

US sources cited by the Wall Street Journal say that Trump has privately discussed with the Korean leader the possibility of a meeting during the president’s upcoming visit to Asia. Such an opportunity could arise in November, when leaders from various countries around the world are expected to gather in Shenzhen, China, for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.

Although no formal proposal has yet been made, Trump’s interest in another direct conversation with Kim reflects the US president’s pursuit of a major foreign-policy achievement. This comes at a time when it appears difficult to declare victory in the military operation launched in Iran in February.

Unlike most US presidents, who have rejected meetings with Kim Jong Un without prior conditions because of the regime’s authoritarian nature and its large nuclear arsenal, Trump believes that a new meeting could restore communication with Pyongyang.

However, analysts and some US officials are uncertain whether a new summit could produce significant results.

Since Trump and Kim’s first three meetings, North Korea has significantly expanded its nuclear and missile capabilities. Pyongyang has also improved its ability to strike US territory.

“He wants to bring another despotic dictator back onto the stage, relying on the mistaken belief that a personal relationship can fulfill US foreign-policy objectives,” said Bruce Klingner, a former senior CIA official and an expert on North Korea and South Korea.

A White House representative said that Trump and Kim would meet “at the right time.”

During his visit to Asia in 2025, Trump had also tried to meet with the North Korean leader. In a conversation with reporters aboard Air Force One, he asked them to “spread the word” that he wanted to meet with Kim.

US officials said that Pyongyang had sent cautious signals that it might be willing to hold such a meeting. But the time available was far too short to address the complicated security and logistical issues.

Trump later said that a meeting with Kim could overshadow the four-way meeting he had planned with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea.

“Maybe it would be disrespectful,” he said after his 100-minute conversation with Xi, adding: “I’ll get back, as far as Kim Jong Un is concerned.”