Trump: Kim Jong Un responded to meeting initiative and is considering a summit this fall

U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un responded to his diplomatic outreach, describing the contact as “very positive.”

According to the Wall Street Journal, Trump is pushing to arrange an in-person meeting with Kim as early as this fall.

When a reporter at the White House asked Trump why Kim was not responding to his attempts to restart dialogue, the president shot back: “How do you know he’s not responding?” When asked a follow-up question, he said: “Yes, he is responding.” Trump declined to specify when or how the contact took place, or whether he had held direct talks with the North Korean leader.

A fall summit takes shape

The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump has been privately discussing the possibility of meeting Kim during his next trip to Asia, which could coincide with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen, China, in November. The outlet cited American officials familiar with the course of the negotiations. North Korea has not publicly confirmed any contacts with Washington.

This diplomatic signal came a day after Trump ordered Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to “significantly reduce” joint military exercises with South Korea, calling the annual drills “costly” and saying they send North Korea “a very inappropriate and hostile signal.” The Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises began on Monday and are scheduled to run through August 27.

Trump also linked the reduction in exercises to South Korea’s refusal to support U.S. operations in Iran:

“We have 39,000 soldiers over there protecting you from Kim Jong Un, your next-door neighbor, and you’re not going to help us in a very simple military operation in Iran,” Trump said.

The outlet Hankyoreh noted that the actual number of U.S. troops stationed in South Korea is approximately 28,500.

Frustration over Iran and pressure on allies

Victor Cha of the Center for Strategic and International Studies said Trump was likely motivated in part by a desire to “move the headlines away from his difficulties with the Iran war.”

Despite Trump’s optimism, analysts warn that a summit is not imminent. Cha said North Korea is most likely “waiting and in no hurry.” Since Trump and Kim last met in 2019, Pyongyang has expanded its nuclear arsenal and strengthened military ties with Russia, significantly bolstering Kim’s negotiating position.

Andrew Yeo of the Brookings Institution takes a different view:

“He has nothing to lose from meeting with Trump, given that Russia and China are behind him,” he said.

On Tuesday, Trump posted on Truth Social a montage showing Kim holding a phone with the caption: “Hey Donald, we good… right?” — a gesture that the outlet said clearly signals the president’s intention to keep the channel of communication open.