US President Donald Trump opened the door on Monday to a future meeting with North Korea’s Kim Jong-un, offering unusual praise for the globally ostracized leader at a time of surging nuclear tensions.
Although the White House played down near-term prospects for such a meeting, Trump’s conciliatory comments marked a departure from his more unforgiving tone toward the North in recent days. It marked the latest fluctuation as Trump’s administration struggles to articulate its policy for addressing the growing threat from North Korea’s nuclear program. “If it would be appropriate for me to meet with him, I would absolutely; I would be honored to do it,” Trump told Bloomberg News. Clearly aware of the power of his declaration, he added, “We have breaking news.”
As a presidential candidate, Trump suggested he was open to meeting Kim, but hadn’t repeated the line since taking office. Fresh missile tests by the North and its progress toward developing a nuclear weapon capable of hitting the United States have made the isolated communist dictatorship one of America’s top national security concerns.
Deeming ex-president Barack Obama’s “strategic patience” with North Korea a total failure, Trump and his aides say they’re taking a more aggressive approach, at times warning of potential military confrontation if the North does not change course.
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