US President Donald Trump characterized North Korea as “sort of a nuclear power” during his departure for Asia, where he may hold another meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. This remark came as he addressed reporters aboard Air Force One, following a question regarding North Korea’s aspiration for recognition as a nuclear state before entering into dialogue with the United States. Trump acknowledged the nation’s nuclear capabilities, stating, “When you say they have to be recognized as a nuclear power, well, they got a lot of nuclear weapons, I’ll say that.”
Trump’s trip to Asia includes a scheduled visit to South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum. Reports from US media indicate that his administration officials have discussed the potential for re-engaging with Kim, whom Trump last met in 2019. The President expressed his desire to meet Kim again, possibly within the year, highlighting the complexity of diplomatic relations on the Korea Peninsula.
In a recent statement, Kim noted that he harbored “fond memories” of his encounters with Trump and conveyed a willingness to engage in talks if the United States reevaluated its demand for the North to surrender its nuclear arsenal, labeling the insistence as “delusional.” South Korea’s unification minister, Chung Dong-young, remarked that there is a “considerable” likelihood that Trump’s visit could culminate in a meeting with Kim. However, a senior US official clarified that no such meeting is currently scheduled for this trip.
In preparation for the potential engagement, tours of the Joint Security Area (JSA) have been suspended by South Korea and the United Nations Command from late October to early November. Minister Chung reported that North Koreans have begun to tidy up areas near the JSA, demonstrating a newfound urgency in preparation that has not been observed earlier in the year.
The last formal interaction between Kim and Trump occurred in 2019 at Panmunjom in the JSA, located within the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that separates the two Koreas. This highly publicized event allowed Trump to make history as the first sitting US president to cross into North Korean territory.
Despite previous discussions aimed at declaring North Korea’s nuclear ambitions, talks have faltered. Both parties failed to reach an agreement over the extent of nuclear disarmament North Korea would undertake compared to the concessions it would receive. Since then, Pyongyang has consistently proclaimed its status as an “irreversible” nuclear state, underscoring the ongoing challenge of diplomatic engagement in the region.
