U.S. President Donald Trump said he is open to meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong Un this year during a White House meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Monday, August 25.
The leaders focused on reducing tensions on the Korean Peninsula and addressing North Korea’s expanding nuclear program. Lee, who took office in June, praised Trump’s past efforts, saying his work has brought more stability to the region compared to recent years.
“You are the first president who really cares about global peace and has made progress,” Lee said. “I hope you can bring peace to the Korean Peninsula and meet Kim Jong Un.”
Trump responded positively, saying, “I will do that. He wants to meet me, and we will have discussions. We want to improve relations, and you will help with that.”
The visit also served as a high-profile test for Lee, who must balance Trump’s “America First” policies with efforts to strengthen U.S.-South Korea economic ties.
During the summit, major business deals were announced, including Korean Air’s plan to buy $50 billion worth of aircraft and engines from Boeing, GE Aerospace, and CFM International, and Hyundai Motor Group increasing its U.S. investment from $21 billion to $26 billion.
Total South Korean investment in the U.S. is expected to reach $150 billion, Lee said.
In a symbolic exchange, Lee gifted Trump two embroidered MAGA cowboy hats, a custom golf putter, and a model of a Korean turtle warship.
Lee even joked about building a Trump Tower in North Korea so Trump could play golf there.
Despite the optimism, it is uncertain whether a Trump-Kim meeting will happen. North Korea recently criticized U.S.-South Korea military exercises, claiming they show Washington’s intent to “occupy” the peninsula.
Lee warned that North Korea could now produce 10–20 nuclear weapons each year due to increased uranium enrichment, though independent verification is limited.
Analysts also note Pyongyang’s missile tests have resumed, and the country is reportedly sending troops to support Russia in Ukraine.
Trump previously met Kim in 2018 and 2019, becoming the first sitting U.S. president to step into North Korea at the DMZ. However, talks in Hanoi collapsed without a deal, and diplomacy stalled afterward.
Since then, Kim has promised to expand North Korea’s nuclear arsenal while advancing missile capabilities, including hypersonic and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).
