U.S. President Donald Trump has reignited diplomatic buzz by expressing hopes to meet Kim Jong Un, leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), during talks with Republic of Korea (ROK) President Lee Jae-myung. The announcement came during their first face-to-face meeting at the White House, where tensions over trade and military spending simmered beneath the surface.
From Singapore to… Where Next? 🌏
Trump, who famously held three summits with Kim between 2018 and 2019, praised the DPRK leader's "tremendous potential" while hinting at a possible fourth meeting. Their past talks—in Singapore, Hanoi, and the inter-Korean border village of Panmunjom—made global headlines but yielded limited progress on denuclearization.
A Rocky Start ⚡
The Trump-Lee meeting began awkwardly after Trump posted cryptic social media remarks about a "Purge or Revolution" in the ROK, later calling it a "misunderstanding." Despite a recent trade deal, disagreements linger over nuclear energy policies and $350 billion in promised ROK investments in the U.S.
Trade & Troops on the Table 💼
Trump floated the idea of the ROK transferring ownership of U.S. military bases like Camp Humphreys, calling Seoul a "money machine" reliant on American defense. Lee, meanwhile, rolled out the diplomatic playbook—praising Trump’s decor and bonding over golf. He even read Trump’s 1987 book, The Art of the Deal, to prep for the visit.
