Donald Trump has said he would like to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during his upcoming trip to Asia.
I would. If you want to put out the word, I'm open to it, the US president told reporters onboard Air Force One as he departed for the region, adding that he had a great relationship with Kim.
Trump made history during his first term, becoming the first sitting US president to set foot into North Korea when they last shook hands in 2019.
His trip to Malaysia and Japan will see him meet several world leaders including China's Xi Jinping, amid trade negotiations fueled by Trump's earlier tariffs on Chinese goods.
Trump has taken a non-traditional approach with North Korea, previously labeled as a little rocket man but has sought conversations instead of conflict. Despite three face-to-face meetings, attempts to agree on denuclearization have stalled, with North Korea conducting missile tests in the interim.
Asked about recognizing North Korea's nuclear status, Trump acknowledged, I think they are sort of a nuclear power... They got a lot of nuclear weapons, I'll say that. Kim has indicated he’s willing to meet once more but under specific conditions pertaining to nuclear disarmament.
The South Korean Unification Minister, Chung Dong-young, noted there is a considerable chance of a Trump-Kim meeting during the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation forum, although current schedules do not include such a meeting.
Additionally, Trump's expected engagements with China's President Xi are set against the backdrop of a trade war that has raised tariffs and sparked economic concerns.
As Trump prepares for his meetings, he highlights ongoing diplomatic negotiations as diplomatically critical for regional stability and international relations.
