South Korean President says Trump seeks to resume dialogue with North Korea

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung announced on September 18, 2026, that U.S. President Donald Trump is clearly seeking to restart diplomatic engagement with North Korea. Speaking at a press conference in Seoul, President Lee expressed his support for this initiative, noting that the dialogue had been interrupted in recent years.

President Trump, who held three summits with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during his first term from 2017 to 2021, aims to rekindle their personal relationship. Trump has stated his intention to meet with the North Korean leader again before the end of this year. While Pyongyang has not yet issued a formal response to these overtures, the South Korean government continues its preliminary coordination efforts to facilitate potential talks.

President Lee acknowledged that while organizing a new summit remains a difficult task, he believes it is not impossible. He emphasized that Seoul must make every possible effort to turn this possibility into reality. As of now, the situation remains fluid, with no confirmation of any scheduled meetings.