Trump Says Kim Jong Un Responded to His Outreach as North Korea Talks Show Signs of Movement

President Donald Trump said Monday that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has responded to his outreach for talks, offering a potentially significant sign of renewed communication between Washington and Pyongyang.

Speaking to reporters at the White House on August 17, Trump was asked whether Kim had responded to his proposal for dialogue.

“Yeah, he has,” Trump said.

Asked how far the discussions had progressed, the president described the situation as “very positive.”

Trump did not disclose what Kim said, when the response was received, or how the communication took place. No formal summit or negotiations have been announced.

Trump Orders Major Reduction in Military Exercises

The comments came shortly after Trump announced that he had instructed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to significantly scale back joint U.S.-South Korean military exercises.

Trump announced the decision on Truth Social, pointing to the cost of the exercises and his relationship with Kim. The president has also expressed dissatisfaction with military drills that send what he views as unnecessarily hostile signals toward North Korea while he seeks diplomatic progress.

Asked about the decision Monday, Trump said his approach toward North Korea was making the Korean Peninsula “much safer.”

Trump also emphasized his personal relationship with Kim, saying the North Korean leader has “respected me very much” and stressing that the two leaders understand each other.

Questions Remain Over Next Steps

Despite Trump's positive assessment, major questions remain about the nature of Kim's response and whether the renewed contact will develop into formal negotiations.

South Korea has not publicly disclosed additional details about the reported U.S.-North Korean contact. It therefore remains unclear whether preparations are underway for direct negotiations or another meeting between Trump and Kim.

Trump met Kim three times during his first term, including their historic 2018 summit in Singapore and a 2019 meeting in Hanoi. His latest comments suggest the personal channel between the two leaders may once again play a central role as Washington looks for a path forward with Pyongyang.