What Trump’s crush on Kim means for the Indo-Pacific

U.S. President Donald Trump meets with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas, in Panmunjom, South Korea, on June 30, 2019. The White House has repeatedly said it remains open to talks with Pyongyang “without preconditions.” | REUTERS

Aug 23, 2026

Every U.S. president in recent generations has promised some version of a pivot to Asia. In Donald Trump’s second term, however, East Asia has largely been neglected as the United States becomes entangled in crises elsewhere. Even Trump’s visit to China was overshadowed by the war in Iran.

Now his improbable relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has abruptly resurfaced. Trump called Pyongyang “unthreatening and respectful” and ordered the Pentagon to scale back joint military exercises with South Korea, citing their cost and his renewed rapport with Kim.

The White House has repeatedly said it remains open to talks with Pyongyang “without preconditions.” But as this newspaper recently reported, North Korea’s deepening economic and military ties with Moscow during Russia’s war against Ukraine have raised a more fundamental question: whether Kim still sees much reason to return to negotiations with Washington.

In a time of both misinformation and too much information,
quality journalism is more crucial than ever.
By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.