Trump open to meeting with Kim Jong Un to achieve denuclearization of North Korea

Trump remains willing to meet Kim Jong Un to push for North Korea’s denuclearization, a White House official confirmed. Despite three summits in 2018 and 2019, no progress was made on dismantling Pyongyang’s nuclear arsenal. In 2018, Trump and Kim signed a pledge to "work toward complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," but talks collapsed over sanctions relief disputes.

Kim Yo Jong, Kim’s sister, recently declared denuclearization demands a “mockery,” asserting, “If the U.S. fails to accept the changed reality and persists in the failed past, the DPRK–U.S. meeting will remain as a ‘hope’ of the U.S. side.” She claimed North Korea’s nuclear capabilities have significantly expanded since 2019.

Trump, reflecting on his historic 2019 DMZ crossing, emphasized his commitment to South Korea’s alliance. Yet, North Korea’s refusal to disarm and Kim’s insistence on sanctions relief without full denuclearization reveal the ongoing stalemate. Pyongyang’s nuclear advancements underscore the failure of past diplomacy to curb its arsenal.