President Trump asserts that diplomacy with North Korea is crucial for global stability.
Former US President Donald Trump has voiced his intention to resume relations with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, emphasizing their past positive interactions and the importance of diplomatic engagement.
At a Friday press conference, Trump stated to reporters, “We will have relations with North Korea and with Kim Jong-un.”
Trump reflected on his prior meetings with Kim, saying, “I got along with him very well, as you know. I think I stopped the war.” He suggested his 2016 electoral victory prevented conflict, adding, “I think if I wouldn’t have won that particular election, you would have ended up in a very bad situation. But I did, and we had a good relationship.”
Trump highlighted the global stability benefits of his relationship with Kim. “I think it’s a very big asset for everybody that I do get along with him. I mean, I get along with him, he gets along with me, and that’s a good thing, not a bad thing.”
He also mentioned that other nations, especially Japan, appreciate his diplomatic approach. “I can tell you that Japan likes the idea because their relationship is not very good with him [Kim Jong-un], and if I can have a relationship with not only him but other people throughout the world where there seem to be difficulties, I think it’s a tremendous asset for the world, not just the United States.”
Trump’s diplomatic overtures to North Korea represented a significant shift in US foreign policy during his first term. Following a period of heightened tensions in 2017, where Trump labeled Kim “Rocket Man” and threatened “fire and fury” if North Korea continued its nuclear pursuits, the two leaders later initiated unprecedented dialogue.
In 2018, Trump and Kim met in Singapore for the first summit between a sitting US president and a North Korean leader. This meeting resulted in a broad denuclearization agreement, though specifics remained unclear. A second summit in Hanoi in 2019 concluded without an agreement due to disagreements over sanctions relief and North Korea’s nuclear program. Later that year, Trump became the first US president to visit North Korea, briefly meeting Kim at the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).
Despite these historic meetings, US-North Korea negotiations stalled, and Pyongyang continued its missile testing. Trump’s attempts to maintain a personal connection with Kim, including exchanging letters, did not produce a concrete denuclearization agreement. However, Trump consistently maintained that his direct diplomacy prevented a major conflict and could be resumed in the future.