Trump pushes for meeting with North Korean leader this fall

By Lee Jung-woo Posted : August 19, 2026, 10:01 Updated : August 19, 2026, 10:01
U.S. President Donald Trump attends an event in Garden City, New York on Aug. 14, 2026. Courtesy of the White House's photographer Molly Riley
SEOUL, August 19 (AJP) - U.S. President Donald Trump's order to scale back a joint U.S.-South Korea military exercise comes as he pushes aides to arrange another meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as early as this fall, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday.

Trump has privately discussed meeting Kim during his next trip to Asia, potentially in November when leaders are expected to gather for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen, China, according to the daily, which cited U.S. officials. But there is apparently no formal planning underway for a summit.

The renewed push follows Trump's announcement last Sunday that the U.S. would reduce a joint military exercise with South Korea, citing in part his "very good relationship with [North Korean leader Kim Jong-un]."

Trump made similar concessions during his first term as he sought to lower tensions ahead of three meetings with Kim.

A White House official told the daily that Trump and Kim would meet at an appropriate time.

South Korea also welcomed the prospect of renewed dialogue, with its embassy in Washington saying it hoped the "friendly relationship" between the two leaders would contribute to meaningful talks and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

Trump met Kim three times during his first term, beginning with their 2018 summit in Singapore. Their second summit in Hanoi in 2019 ended without an agreement after the two sides failed to bridge differences over sanctions relief and North Korea's nuclear program. A third meeting at the inter-Korean border later that year also failed to revive negotiations.

Any new talks would take place under significantly different circumstances. North Korea has continued expanding its nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities while strengthening ties with Russia and China. Analysts cited by the WSJ said Pyongyang would therefore enter another round of diplomacy with greater leverage than it had during Trump's first term.

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