Trump Signals Interest in New Meeting with Kim Jong Un During Talks with South Korea’s Leader

U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday he hopes to meet North Korea’s Kim Jong Un again this year, as he welcomed South Korea’s new president, Lee Jae Myung, to the White House.

The meeting began awkwardly after Trump criticized raids in South Korea, calling them a «Purge or Revolution,» before later dismissing his remarks as a «misunderstanding.»

Despite the rocky start, Trump and Lee emphasized shared support for diplomacy with North Korea. Trump, who met Kim three times during his first term, described their relationship as unusually close and suggested another summit could take place soon.

Lee, elected in June after the impeachment of former president Yoon Suk Yeol, flattered Trump during the Oval Office meeting, saying he had transformed the U.S. into a «maker of peace.» He even joked about a possible «Trump Tower in Pyongyang.»

Later in Washington, Lee warned that North Korea is expanding its nuclear arsenal, capable of producing up to 20 nuclear weapons annually and developing missiles that could strike the United States.

Trump also pressed Seoul on defense costs, suggesting the U.S. could seek ownership of military base land in South Korea. In addition, Korean Air announced plans to buy over 100 Boeing aircraft, a deal Trump hailed as proof of stronger economic ties.

The discussions highlighted both the tensions and opportunities as Washington, Seoul, and Pyongyang navigate shifting dynamics on the Korean Peninsula amid deepening Russia–North Korea cooperation.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Sunday that tensions with the United States were «unsolvable».