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President Donald Trump has announced his intentions to reestablish diplomatic ties with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Some shit you should know before you read: The Kim-Trump relationship initially began on hostile terms, with Donald Trump mocking Kim Jong Un as “Little Rocket Man” and calling him fat, while Kim responded by calling Trump a “dotard” and threatening nuclear action. Despite these exchanges, their dynamic shifted dramatically, leading to an unprecedented series of summits between 2018 and 2019 aimed at dismantling North Korea’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. Trump and Kim famously described their relationship as warm, with Trump even claiming they “fell in love,” but the talks ultimately collapsed without a deal as both sides refused to compromise on key issues. When President Joe Biden took office, US-North Korea relations became shitty again, with Biden’s administration adopting a more aggressive stance on Pyongyang and ramping up military exercises with South Korea.

What’s going on now: In an interview with Fox News, President Donald Trump confirmed his plans to reach out to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. When asked if he would reach out, Trump said, “I will, yeah. He liked me, and I got along with him.” He also called Kim a “smart guy” and said he was not the same as Iran’s leaders, whom he dismissed as “religious zealots,” stating that Kim “is not a religious zealot” but “happens to be a smart guy.”
Trump also recalled his first-term efforts to reduce tensions with North Korea, claiming he “solved that problem” related to the de-escalation of nuclear threats during his presidency. He noted that his approach had differed from prior administrations, which he criticized for failing to engage directly with Pyongyang.
This all comes as North Korea has significantly strengthened its ties with Russia, aligning itself with Moscow in a mutually beneficial partnership that has drawn sharp criticism from the United States. North Korea has sent munitions, ballistic missiles, and an estimated 12,000 troops to support Russia’s war in Ukraine, a move the Biden administration called a “major escalation” and a threat to global stability. In return, Russia is providing North Korea with advanced military technology, including new fighter jets, artillery systems, and assistance in bolstering Pyongyang’s missile and nuclear programs.
North Korea has framed its actions as part of a “multipolar global order” designed to counter US influence, while also accusing Washington of maintaining a “hostile policy” that justifies its nuclear advancements and alliance with Russia.