Trump Open to Meeting Kim Jong Un on Asia Visit

US President Donald Trump has said he is open to meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during his upcoming trip to Asia, reigniting speculation of a possible reunion between the two leaders who once dominated global headlines with their unprecedented diplomacy.

“I would. If you want to put out the word, I’m open to it,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One as he departed for Asia, describing Kim as someone with whom he shared a “great relationship.”

Trump, who made history in 2019 by becoming the first sitting US president to step into North Korea, is set to visit Malaysia and Japan, with meetings also planned with Chinese President Xi Jinping amid renewed trade tensions.

During his first term, Trump and Kim met three times in an effort to reach a denuclearisation deal. The talks ultimately collapsed, and North Korea has since resumed long-range missile tests, alarming its neighbours.

Kim has also hinted at openness to another meeting, provided the US drops what he termed its “absurd” demand for North Korea to surrender its nuclear arsenal. “I still have a good memory of President Trump,” Kim said in a recent address, according to state media.

South Korean Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said there was a “considerable” chance the two leaders could meet when Trump visits South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Busan. However, US officials told reporters no such meeting is currently scheduled.

Trump’s trip begins with the ASEAN Summit in Malaysia, followed by the APEC gathering in South Korea, where he is expected to meet President Lee Jae Myung to discuss peace efforts on the Korean Peninsula.

The visit also coincides with renewed strains in US-China relations. Trump and Xi are expected to discuss trade issues after Washington threatened a 100% tariff on Chinese goods, responding to Beijing’s restrictions on rare earth exports, materials vital for global electronics production.