Trump Administration Discusses Possible Meeting with Kim Jong Un During Upcoming U.S. President's Visit to Asia

CNN reported on Saturday that U.S. administration officials discussed internally the possibility of arranging a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during Trump's anticipated visit to Asia next month.

Sources clarified that officials have not initiated any serious logistical planning, nor have there been any direct communications between Washington and Pyongyang, unlike what sometimes occurred during Trump's first term. Trump had attempted to reach out to Kim earlier this year, but the message received no response from the North Korean side.

Trump publicly and privately expresses his desire to hold a meeting with Kim, keeping the door open for a potential meeting during his upcoming visit. It is worth noting that Trump's first term saw a quick handshake arranged between the two leaders in the demilitarized zone between the Koreas, less than 48 hours after a promotional tweet, demonstrating how quickly things can change in the North Korean issue.

Trump's increasing interest in this meeting follows his hosting of South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol at the White House last August. For his part, Kim confirmed in September that he has positive memories of Trump and is open to future talks with the United States, provided that Washington abandons its demand for his denuclearization.

The North Korean leader emphasized that nuclear weapons programs are essential to protect his country's security against what he described as "serious threats" from the United States and South Korea, noting that maintaining this weapon is an existential matter for national security.