Trump says there's 'communication' with N. Korean leader Kim Jong-un

Welcome to Within The Frame, where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus, I'm Kim Mok-yeon.

As tensions on the Korean Peninsula continue, U.S. President Donald Trump is once again signaling openness to diplomacy, revealing that lines of communication with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un are still active.

Let's have a listen.

"Well, I do. I have a very good relationship with Kim Jong-un. Now, you people hate to hear that, but it's very important, I get along with him fantastically as you know. It started off very rough, very nasty. Little Rocket Man. The whole thing was a nasty deal. And then one day we got a call that they'd like to meet. We met. We have a great relationship. And yeah, we have. There is communication. Yeah. I think it's very important. You know, it is a big nuclear nation. And he's a very smart guy. I got to know him very well."

Trump's latest comments, delivered during a press availability at the White House, have reignited debate over the future of U.S.-North Korea relations and the possibilities for a fourth Trump-Kim summit.

Trump's reference to the regime as a "big nuclear nation" is also drawing attention, prompting fresh questions about whether Washington's denuclearization policy may be shifting.

For a deeper discussion on this, we invite our go-to North Korea expert, Dr. Go Myong-hyun, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for National Security Strategy.

Welcome.

Also joining us online is Frank Jannuzi, President & CEO of The Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation. Great to have you.

(GO) 1. So, Dr. Go, U.S. President Trump hinted at ongoing communication with Kim Jong-un and said he would “probably do something at some point.”

How should we interpret his statement? Do you think a fourth Trump-Kim summit is likely?

(JANNUZI) 2. Now to Mr. Jannuzi. Trump referred to Kim Jong-un as a “smart guy” and North Korea as a “big nuclear nation.”

What implications could this rhetoric have for future denuclearization talks and international perceptions of North Korea’s nuclear status?

(GO) 3. There’s confusion around terminology like "big nuclear nation" and “nuclear power.”

Dr. Go, can you clarify how North Korea is officially viewed in terms of the NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty) framework and what strategic messaging is at play in Trump use of such phrases?

(JANNUZI) 4. Despite such comments, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau underscored America's commitment to the "complete" denuclearization of North Korea during phone talks with his South Korean counterpart on Tuesday. Mr. Jannuzi, how could we interpret Washington's stance on the denuclearization of North Korea?

(JANNUZI) 5. Looking back at the 2018–2019 summits between Trump and Kim, what lessons or outcomes should Trump’s second term take into account for re-engagement?

(JANNUZI) 6. In response to Trump's latest remarks, South Korea's Unification Ministry reaffirmed that “denuclearization of North Korea remains the unified goal of South Korea, the U.S., and the international community.” In your view, is this goal still realistic given the evolving global and regional dynamics?

(JANNUZI) 8. Then, Mr. Jannuzi, to what extent are North Korea’s cyber operations integrated into its broader military strategy or used as asymmetric tools to fund its WMD programs?

(GO) 9. Shifting gears, the U.S. has increasingly promoted “strategic flexibility,” hinting that U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) may be deployed beyond the Peninsula.

How realistic is this scenario, and how might this impact the deterrence posture against North Korea? Could this create new vulnerabilities?

(GO) 10. Finally, as the strategic landscape shifts — with North Korea's growing capabilities on one side and evolving U.S. military posture on the other — what should South Korea prioritize to avoid being sidelined?