Trump’s Remarks at South Korea-U.S. Summit
“We Might Be Able to Do Something Regarding Inter-Korean Issues”
On August 25 (local time), U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his desire to resume a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un this year during a South Korea-U.S. summit with President Lee Jaemyung at the White House.
During the meeting, when President Lee mentioned his hope for a North Korea-U.S. summit, President Trump responded, "We might be able to do something regarding inter-Korean issues," expressing his willingness to pursue such a summit.
He added, "Compared to other South Korean leaders I have worked with, you have a much stronger inclination to resolve this issue," and continued, "We will pursue this together, and I think it is a very good thing."
President Trump stated that he would like to meet with Chairman Kim "within this year."
Previously, during his first term, President Trump held two North Korea-U.S. summits: the first in Singapore and the second in Hanoi, Vietnam, as well as a meeting at Panmunjom. With his latest remarks, he has revealed his intention to pursue another summit.
President Trump, who has repeatedly emphasized his close relationship with Chairman Kim, said, "We had a very good relationship and we still do," stressing, "We have a great deal of mutual respect."
At the executive order signing ceremony held just before the summit, President Trump also commented on Chairman Kim, saying, "Someday I will see him again. We held two summits and got along very well. Except for his sister, I know him better than anyone else."
He also claimed that if former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who ran as the Democratic candidate in the 2016 presidential election, had won, there would have been a "nuclear war" or a "catastrophe."
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