Kim Jong Un Eyes Trump Meeting—But From a Position of Strength

Kim Jong Un is in a stronger position today than he was during his 2018 and 2019 summits with Donald Trump. That shift in power does not mean the North Korean leader sees no benefit in sitting down with the former U.S. president again. While the first meetings were historic, they produced little concrete progress on denuclearization. Now, with a more advanced missile program and closer ties to Russia and China, Kim approaches any potential dialogue with far more leverage. A renewed encounter would not be about desperation. It would be about calculation. For Kim, a meeting offers a stage for legitimacy, a chance to split U.S. allies, and an opportunity to test Trump’s willingness to ease sanctions. Trump, for his part, has repeatedly touted his personal rapport with Kim. That relationship, however, has not translated into lasting agreements. The key question is not whether Kim wants to talk. It is what he would demand—and what he would offer—in return.