Trump: "Kim Jong-un's 'nuclear power' is clear... We will build relationships again"

# Trump's Relations with Kim Jong Un Signal Potential Resumption of North Korea Dialogues [Washington – Newsis] Donald Trump, the U.S. President, reiterated his willingness to reinitiate dialogues with North Korea, acknowledging that Kim Jong Un possesses nuclear weapons. During a meeting in the Oval Office on the 13th (local time) with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, President Trump conveyed his intention to rebuild relations with Kim Jong Un. When asked by reporters if he would re-establish a relationship with Kim similar to his first term, Trump responded affirmatively: “I would.” President Trump highlighted his former relationship with Kim, stating, “I had a great relationship with Kim Jong Un. If Hillary (Clinton) had won the election instead of me, there would have been a nuclear war with North Korea.” He further remarked, “That is what Kim expected, and millions would have died; that’s what they said.” Trump also recalled their meetings, notably in Singapore and Vietnam, where they developed a productive relationship. “We had a good rapport, and we still do,” he said, adding, “What he’s a nuclear power is certain.” This statement underscores the need for renewed talks between the U.S. and North Korea to mitigate the threat posed by North Korea's nuclear capabilities. Trump’s repeated reference to Kim Jong Un as a "nuclear power" remains significant. On his inauguration day on January 20, Trump had similarly recognized Kim's nuclear status, drawing considerable attention in South Korea. However, diplomatic analysts generally view this acknowledgment as a realistic acceptance of North Korea's nuclear abilities, rather than a formal recognition of it as a nuclear state. President Trump was the first sitting U.S. president to hold a summit with North Korea, a significant move despite the lack of a final agreement. He considers the summit negotiations one of his key achievements. Reflecting on his initial tough stance, Trump noted, “Remember how rough things started, and then it stopped. Back then, the rhetoric from North Korea was extremely harsh and somewhat dangerous.” He recalled that the initial tensions between the U.S. and North Korea were swiftly de-escalated following dialogues, prompted by North Korea’s request for meetings. “These talks were made possible by the successful (PyeongChang Winter) Olympics held in South Korea, where initially, people were reluctant to attend due to nuclear attack fears,” Trump explained. Subsequent dialogues not only led to a successful Olympics but also saw North Korea’s participation, which Trump hailed as a significant achievement of his administration. With Trump’s return to the White House this January, there is renewed speculation on the potential resumption of stalled U.S.-North Korea dialogues post the 2019 Hanoi 'No Deal' summit. Trump has consistently indicated his willingness to maintain good relations with Kim Jong Un and continue conversations. However, given the myriad of domestic and international challenges facing the Trump administration, early resumption of these dialogues remains uncertain.