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.
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