Former U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed on Wednesday that he was unable to arrange a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during his visit to South Korea, ending days of speculation over a possible reunion between the two leaders.
Trump had earlier expressed interest in meeting Kim during his Asia trip, which would have marked their first encounter since his previous term in the White House. However, Pyongyang has not publicly responded to the invitation.
“I know Kim Jong Un very well… we really weren’t able to work out timing,” Trump said.
Just hours before Trump’s arrival in Seoul, North Korea test-fired cruise missiles off its western coast — a move widely interpreted as a warning message to its “enemies” amid renewed regional tensions.
Trump Meets South Korean President Lee Jae Myung
During his visit, Trump met with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, vowing to help “straighten out tensions” between the North and South.
Lee, whose nation remains technically at war with North Korea, praised Trump’s outreach to Kim, describing it as a “significant gesture that created a sense of warmth and peace on the Korean Peninsula.”
Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One earlier that day that he expected to meet Kim “in the not too distant future.”
“At some point, we’ll be involved with North Korea. I think they’d like to, and I’d like to,” Trump said.
A History of Unprecedented Engagements
Trump and Kim previously held three high-profile summits during Trump’s first term, including their historic meeting at Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).
That encounter, arranged after a last-minute Twitter invitation, saw the two leaders shake hands across the borderbefore Trump briefly stepped into North Korean territory, becoming the first U.S. president ever to do so.
Despite the symbolism, the negotiations collapsed soon after, with both sides failing to agree on the terms of North Korea’s denuclearization and U.S. sanctions relief.
Since then, Pyongyang has declared itself an “irreversible nuclear state,” while continuing to advance its missile and nuclear programs in defiance of international sanctions.
Renewed Tensions, Lingering Hope
Analysts say Trump’s latest comments could signal a possible reopening of communication channels between Washington and Pyongyang, though concrete steps remain uncertain.
The Biden administration has maintained a more cautious stance toward North Korea, focusing on sanctions enforcement and deterrence rather than direct engagement.
For now, Trump’s attempt to rekindle diplomacy appears to have stalled — but both Washington and Seoul are keeping a close watch for Pyongyang’s next move.
By VOPTV – Global Affairs Desk
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