U.S. President Donald Trump has directed aides to pursue a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un by this fall, with November as a possible target date.
The initiative follows Trump’s recent announcement that the U.S. would significantly reduce joint military exercises with South Korea, a move aimed at easing tensions on the Korean Peninsula. The potential summit could take place during Trump’s upcoming trip to Asia, specifically coinciding with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen, China.
According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, no formal planning has yet begun for the meeting. However, Trump has historically favored direct engagement with Kim, having met the North Korean leader once during his first term. Most U.S. presidents have traditionally demanded preconditions before agreeing to talks with Pyongyang.
The push for a new summit comes as North Korea has continued to expand its nuclear arsenal over the past decade. Trump views a face-to-face meeting as an opportunity to restart stalled nuclear negotiations with the regime.
The report was published on August 18, 2026, just days after Trump’s announcement on scaling back military drills with South Korea.
