The president Donald Trumpcould meet face to face with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as soon as this spring with the aim of reviving the nuclear diplomacy that was a historic milestone of his first term. The summit would take place when the American head of state makes his tour of Asia, according to what the Wall Street Journal learned.
A concrete possibility is in November, when world leaders gather for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen, China. Although there is no formal planning for the meeting yet, White House officials believe it would be the ideal time.
Trump became the first sitting U.S. president to meet with a North Korean leader when he held a historic summit with Kim in Singapore in 2018. The leaders met again in Vietnam in 2019, when Trump walked away instead of accepting a deal that did not secure sufficient dismantling of Pyongyang's nuclear program.
There is a high likelihood that the photo with Kim from Trump's first term will be repeated this year
Now, North Korea retains its nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities while the last Democratic administration has pushed the regime closer to Russia and China. In this sense, Trump seems to believe that his personal relationship with Kim could reopen a diplomatic channel that was dismantled by "Sleepy" Joe Biden.
The Republican figure stated on Monday that Kim had responded to his recent overture, although he did not provide details. Trump also recently ordered the Pentagon to substantially reduce joint military exercises with South Korea, citing their cost, the priority of achieving peace in Asia, and Seoul's stance in the war against Iran as the main reasons for this cut.
"Kim Jong Un has always treated me with great respect," Trump said on Monday, emphasizing the good rapport: "I understand him. He understands me."
Trump and a possible new nuclear summit with Kim Jong Un: It would take place in spring when the president makes his tour of Asia
