Donald Trump announces planned meeting with Kim Jong Un by end of year

US President Donald Trump announced on August 19, 2026, that he plans to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un before the end of the year. Trump made these remarks to reporters while touring construction work at the White House, asserting that he shares a strong personal relationship with the North Korean leader and believes the upcoming summit will proceed successfully.

During his statement, Trump provided an assessment of the North Korean nuclear program, claiming the country currently possesses 57 high-power nuclear weapons. He criticized the previous administration for allowing this development, stating that such an outcome would not have occurred under his leadership. Furthermore, as a gesture related to his rapport with Pyongyang, Trump has directed Pentagon officials to reduce the scale of joint annual military exercises between the United States and South Korea.

While the President remains optimistic about the diplomatic process, there is ongoing internal friction regarding the effectiveness of these efforts, with some reports noting that North Korea continues to label US policies as hostile despite these high-level interactions. No specific date or venue for the meeting has been finalized, and the administration has not provided further details on the planned agenda.