United States President, Donald Trump, has said he intends to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un later this year, reviving prospects of direct talks between Washington and Pyongyang.
Trump made the disclosure on Wednesday while responding to questions about whether he planned to hold face-to-face discussions with the North Korean leader.
“Yeah, I will,” Trump said when asked whether he planned in-person talks with Kim, with whom Trump claimed to have a great relationship.
“I get along with him. And you know what? The fact that I get along with him — that’s a good thing,” he said.
However, it remains unclear whether arrangements for a fourth Trump-Kim summit have been formally initiated.
The two leaders met three times during Trump’s first term, including a 2019 encounter at the Korean Demilitarized Zone, where Trump briefly entered North Korean territory.
Despite the meetings, North Korea continued expanding its nuclear weapons programme.
Trump’s latest comments came after his administration took steps that appeared aimed at improving relations with Pyongyang.
The United States recently scaled back planned military exercises with South Korea, while Trump also shared a photograph of his 2019 meeting with Kim.
A US official said upcoming travel to Asia for a leaders’ summit in November could provide an opportunity for Trump to restart direct diplomacy with Kim.
Trump also dismissed concerns over North Korea’s growing nuclear arsenal, which he estimated at 57 weapons, blaming previous US administrations for allowing the buildup.
“If I were I president I wouldn’t have allowed it,” Trump said.
The US president said his personal relationship with Kim could help keep tensions with North Korea under control.
“I know Kim Jong Un very well, and he’s going to be fine as long as we have a smart president,” Trump said. “He’s going to be fine. If we have a dumb president, then he’s probably not going to be so fine.”
