Trump says Kim Jong Un responded as Seoul tensions rise over scaled-back drills
US President Donald Trump has said North Korean leader Kim Jong Un responded to his recent overtures, describing the exchange as positive. The comments came a day after Trump said he had ordered the Pentagon to scale back military drills with South Korea, which he had called "inappropriate and hostile". He also repeated his view that his personal ties with Kim were making the situation safer.
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Trump made the remarks while speaking to reporters in the Oval Office. When asked why Kim had not replied to requests for a conversation since Trump returned to office last year, he replied: "How do you know he hasn't responded?" When pressed further, he said: "Yeah, he has." He added that the conversations were "very positive", but gave no further detail on their content or timing. The president also linked the decision on military exercises to wider disputes with allies over the war with Iran.
He criticised South Korea for not helping Washington in what he described as a military operation aimed at stopping Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. South Korean officials said the exercises had begun as planned and said they hoped the personal chemistry between Trump and Kim would bring them back to talks. Seoul's presidential office said the drills did not reflect any intention to attack North Korea or escalate tensions on the Korean peninsula.
The remarks matter because they touch on one of the most sensitive security relationships in Asia. The United States has long stationed troops in South Korea and regularly conducts joint exercises with Seoul as part of deterrence against North Korea. Any change in the scale or tone of those drills can affect military readiness, alliance confidence and diplomatic signalling to Pyongyang.
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Trump has met Kim three times during his first term, but the two leaders have not met during his second term. His latest comments suggest he is again trying to frame personal diplomacy as a way to reduce tensions with North Korea. That approach has previously drawn attention because it can move quickly, but it has also left many details unclear about what concrete steps, if any, are being discussed.
It remains unclear what form Kim's response took, whether any direct channel is now active, and whether the scaled-back drills will change in practice. It is also not clear how South Korea will respond if Washington continues to alter the pace or scope of joint exercises. The next developments to watch are any confirmation from Seoul, any further comment from Pyongyang, and whether the two sides return to formal talks.
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