Trump to 'reach out' to North Korean leader

By Im Yoon-seo Posted : January 24, 2025, 16:24 Updated : January 25, 2025, 00:15
 
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (left) and U.S. President Donald Trump hold a meeting at the Demilitarized Zone, in this file photo from June 2019.
SEOUL, January 24 (AJP) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he would "reach out" to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

His comments come just a few days into his non-consecutive second term earlier this week, suggesting that he intends to re-engage in talks with Pyongyang.

In an interview with Fox News, Trump said, "I'll reach out to him again," but gave no specific details. "I got along with him. He is not a religious zealot. He happens to be a smart guy," he added.

On his first day in office, Trump recalled his "good relationship" with Kim during his first presidency in 2017, saying that "I think he will be happy to see me coming back." But he also referred to North Korea as a "nuclear power."

Despite these signs of reviving talks with North Korea, many observers still believe that engagement with the North will not come early, as Trump may be preoccupied with other priorities, such as resolving conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, which he had pledged to address during his campaign.
 
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks via virtual link to participants at the annual World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland on Jan. 23, 2025. AFP-Yonhap
But some also speculate that Trump may recognize North Korea as a nuclear-armed state, which could undermine South Korea's denuclearization efforts and threaten regional security on the Korean Peninsula.

Earlier in the day, Trump abruptly suggested nuclear disarmament talks with China and Russia, without mentioning North Korea, in virtual remarks to business executives attending this year's World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Trump said that he wants to work toward "denuclearization" with them and believes such efforts are "very possible."

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