Lee says Trump-Kim summit remains possible in coming months

Friday 18 September 2026 - 10:10

By: Azzat Manal

Lee says Trump-Kim summit remains possible in coming months

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said Friday that a new meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un could take place in the coming months, while stressing that no firm agreement has been reached.

Speaking at a televised press conference, Lee said Trump appears interested in reopening dialogue with Pyongyang and that Seoul is continuing efforts to help create conditions for renewed communication between Washington and North Korea. He described a possible U.S.-North Korean dialogue as a potentially important step toward easing tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

Lee indicated that talks between Washington and Pyongyang could currently be easier to restart than direct negotiations between the two Koreas. In his view, renewed U.S.-North Korean contacts could also help create an environment in which communication between Seoul and Pyongyang becomes possible again.

The comments come amid renewed uncertainty over security on the Korean Peninsula. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's sister, Kim Yo Jong, has recently criticized U.S.-led military exercises in the region, warning that Pyongyang could respond more strongly if it considers its security or national interests threatened.

The possibility of another Trump-Kim meeting has gained attention after Trump indicated in August that he intended to meet the North Korean leader later in 2026. However, the timing and conditions for such a summit remain uncertain, and there has been no confirmation of a finalized meeting.

Previous meetings between Trump and Kim, including their 2018 and 2019 summits, brought unprecedented direct diplomacy between the two leaders but failed to produce a lasting agreement on North Korea's nuclear program. Seoul is therefore seeking to encourage dialogue while navigating continued military and diplomatic tensions in the region.