Kim Jong Un news
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Trump pushes for a meeting with Kim Jong Un this fall, possibly at APEC in Shenzhen.
The meeting could revive nuclear diplomacy, but Kim's sister casts doubt on talks.
Background
Trump has revived his push for a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, aiming to revive nuclear diplomacy from his first term. The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump is pushing aides for a meeting as soon as this fall, possibly around the November APEC summit in Shenzhen, China. This comes amid Trump's struggles with the Iran war, which analysts say may be a motivation. However, North Korea's official news agency quoted Kim's sister, Kim Yo Jong, as saying she was not aware of any recent communication between her brother and Trump, casting doubt on the claims.
How it unfolded
- Aug 17, 2026NYT reports Trump turns to North Korea's Kim amid quagmire in Iran.
- Aug 18, 2026WSJ reports Trump pushes aides for a meeting with Kim this fall; Trump says Kim has responded to his request for a conversation.
- Aug 19, 2026Trump says he expects to meet with Kim this year; Kim's sister casts doubt on secret talks.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Trump says he gets along with Kim and that it's a good thing, citing Kim's 57 nuclear weapons.
- Analysts
- Victor Cha doubts North Korea will respond immediately, saying they will bide their time.
- Public
- Kim Yo Jong says she is unaware of any communication, casting doubt on Trump's claims.
Still unverified
The Wall Street Journal report citing U.S. officials is not independently confirmed. Kim Yo Jong's denial of communication is a single-source statement from North Korean state media.