US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he plans to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un later this year, marking their first meeting since Trump began his second term.
Trump also claimed that North Korea possesses 57 “very powerful” nuclear weapons, offering an unusually specific assessment of the country’s nuclear arsenal.
Trump did not provide details about the planned meeting, but the Wall Street Journal reported that he may seek to meet Kim during a visit to China for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in November.
Trump defended his willingness to meet Kim while continuing military action against Iran, saying North Korea already possesses nuclear weapons while he wants to prevent Iran from acquiring them.
The announcement came two days after Trump ordered the US to scale back what he described as “inappropriate and hostile” military exercises with South Korea, citing his relationship with Kim.
Trump and Kim met three times during Trump’s first presidential term, but have not met during his second term.
Kim Jong Un’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, said Wednesday that she was unaware of any reported communication between the two leaders, while describing relations between them as “excellent.”
Source: AFP
