Sep 21, 2025 - Politics & Policy

Kim says he's open to talks with U.S., has "fond" memories of Trump

Rebecca Falconer

A blacl-haired North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, wearing a black suit, white shirt and cream tie and his trademark square haircut, walking in a hall. — North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Beijing, China, earlier this month. Photo: VCG/VCG via Getty Images

North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un suggested his country can resume dialogue with the U.S. if Washington drops calls for Pyongyang to denuclearize, state media reported Monday morning local time.

Why it matters: President Trump has said he wants to meet with Kim again this year and his administration has for months been game-planning for potentially restarting dialogue with North Korea, which has made alarming nuclear advances since they last met, per Axios' Barak Ravid and Dave Lawler.

The two leaders met three times during the first Trump administration and Kim said Sunday that "personally, I still have fond memories of the current President of the United States, Trump," per an auto-translation of a Facebook post by the state-run Rodong Sinmun.

Zoom in: "If the United States shuts down its hollow denuclearization ideology and wants a true peaceful coexistence with us based on acceptance of reality, then we have no reason not to [sit down with] the United States," Kim said during his parliamentary speech, according to the post.

He vowed that his country would "never" give up its nuclear weapons.
Representatives for the White House and State Department did not immediately respond to Axios' requests for comment.

Zoom out: South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has sought to restore relations with Pyongyang since being elected in June and has been rebuffed by North Korea.

Go deeper: Trump admin game-planning for potential North Korea talks

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Kim says he's open to talks with U.S., has "fond" memories of Trump

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