Trump Kim Jong Un Meeting: North Korea Rejects US Outreach

President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he plans to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un later this year, even as Pyongyang dismissed Washington's decision to scale back joint military exercises with South Korea as a hostile gesture. The renewed push for a Trump Kim Jong Un meeting comes amid heightened tensions on the Korean peninsula and Trump's broader overhaul of US alliances.

Background: Why Trump Scaled Back Ulchi Freedom Shield

On Monday, Trump announced the US would ‘substantially reduce’ the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise, a long-standing joint drill with South Korea. The exercise began Aug. 17 and was originally scheduled to end Aug. 27, but after Trump's order, the Pentagon and South Korean military cut the duration from 11 days to five, ending on Aug. 21. US-South Korea military exercises have been a flashpoint for decades, with North Korea consistently calling them rehearsals for invasion.

Trump said the drills cost the US too much money and sent a ‘completely inappropriate and hostile’ signal. South Korea's military confirmed it had agreed to shorten the exercise.

North Korea's Response: ‘Hostile’ Policy Unchanged

Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, rejected the concession on Wednesday. In a statement carried by state media KCNA, she said the reduced scale ‘does not change the hostile nature’ of US policy toward North Korea.

“We do not find it worth commenting on, and we have no interest whatsoever,” Kim Yo Jong said. “The provocative, aggressive nature of the exercises will not change, even if their duration and scale are reduced.”

Her statement also denied any ongoing communication between Kim Jong Un and Trump, saying she was ‘completely unaware’ of such contact.

Trump Plans to Meet Kim Jong Un Later This Year

Responding to the North Korean statement, Trump reiterated his intention to meet Kim Jong Un later in 2026, saying the two leaders ‘get along well.’ The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump has privately discussed a face-to-face meeting at the 2026 APEC summit in Shenzhen, set for Nov. 18-19 in China.

Trump met Kim three times during his first term, but those summits failed to produce a denuclearization deal. Analysts note that North Korea has since expanded its nuclear arsenal, which the US estimates at around 57 warheads, and deepened its military ties with Russia, including deploying troops to Ukraine.

What Are the Ulchi Freedom Shield Exercises?

Ulchi Freedom Shield is the largest annual combined military exercise between the United States and South Korea. It typically involves about 18,000 personnel with land, sea and air assets, including F-16, F-35 and F-22 fighter jets. The exercise is designed to test defensive readiness against North Korean threats.

• Original schedule: Aug. 17–27, 2026 (11 days)
• Revised schedule: Aug. 17–21, 2026 (5 days)
• Personnel: Approximately 18,000 troops
• Assets: F-16, F-35, F-22 aircraft, naval vessels

Impact on US-South Korea Alliance

The abrupt reduction has unsettled the 70-year-old US-South Korea alliance. South Korea has been a steadfast partner, but Trump has expressed frustration that Seoul refused to join the US war with Iran and has demanded higher payments for US troop protection. Analysts warn that scaling back deterrence exercises could embolden North Korea, which conducted ballistic missile tests earlier this month in violation of UN resolutions.

At the same time, Trump's outreach has so far yielded little: North Korea continues to expand its nuclear program and has rejected repeated diplomatic overtures.

FAQ: Trump Kim Jong Un Meeting and Military Drills

Will Trump meet Kim Jong Un in 2026?

Trump says he will meet Kim Jong Un later this year, possibly during the APEC summit in Shenzhen, China, on Nov. 18-19, but no formal plan has been confirmed.

Why did the US scale back Ulchi Freedom Shield?

Trump ordered the Pentagon to substantially reduce the exercise, citing cost and the signal it sends to North Korea. South Korea agreed to shorten the drill from 11 days to five.

What did North Korea say about the reduced drills?

Kim Yo Jong said the reduction does not change the ‘hostile’ US policy and dismissed the gesture as not worth commenting on.

How many nuclear weapons does North Korea have?

US intelligence estimates North Korea possesses around 57 nuclear weapons, a number that has grown since Trump's first-term summits.

What is Ulchi Freedom Shield?

It is the largest annual combined military exercise between the US and South Korea, involving about 18,000 troops and advanced fighter jets.