Trump Calls North Korea a ‘Sort of Nuclear Power’ Ahead of Possible Talks with Kim Jong Un

US President Donald Trump acknowledged North Korea as a “sort of a nuclear power” on Friday as he departed for an official trip to Asia that could potentially include his first meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un since 2019.​

While on board Air Force One, Trump was asked if he would accept Pyongyang’s demand to be recognized as a nuclear state as a precondition for dialogue. “Well, I think they are sort of a nuclear power,” he responded evasively, adding, “When you say they have to be recognized as a nuclear power, well, they got a lot of nuclear weapons, I’ll say that.”​

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Trump-Kim Meeting: Here’s What We Know
Trump is scheduled to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum in South Korea next week. Multiple US media outlets have reported that officials are quietly exploring the possibility of a Trump-Kim meeting, as the US president has repeatedly expressed his hope for renewed diplomacy.​

Kim Jong Un recently adopted a more conciliatory stance, stating he has “fond memories” of Trump and would be open to talks if the US abandons its “delusional” demand for complete denuclearization.​

On Friday, South Korea’s Unification Minister, Chung Dong-young, said he sees a “considerable” chance of the two leaders meeting during Trump’s visit. However, a senior US official, speaking on background to AFP, downplayed the possibility, clarifying that such a meeting “is not on the schedule for this trip.” No official announcement has been made by either Washington or Pyongyang.