Record / E-2026-0019
Trump says Kim Jong Un responded to his outreach; North Korea denies any contact
On August 15, 2026, Trump posted on Truth Social: Despite the unfriendly look on this particular picture, there are many where we're smiling, Kim Jong Un and I get along GREAT! On August 18, 2026, in the Oval Office, he said Kim had responded to his outreach, called the exchange very positive, and said, Kim Jong Un has always treated me with great respect. I understand him. He understands me. On August 19, 2026, he told reporters he expected to meet Kim later in the year, said Kim has 57 very powerful nuclear weapons, and said, As long as we have a smart president, he's going to be fine. On August 20, 2026, Kim Yo Jong, in a statement carried by KCNA, denied that the two leaders had had any contact while describing their personal relationship as excellent.
Context
This entry records the statements themselves, each verified against its source; it does not record that contact occurred, which is contested. Trump stated on camera that Kim had responded to his outreach, and Kim Yo Jong, in a KCNA-carried statement, denied any contact between the leaders. Both statements are presented with citations, and this entry does not resolve which is accurate. The statements are continuous with the 2018 and 2019 meetings between the two leaders rather than a new development. The figure of 57 nuclear weapons is Trump's own number and is not an intelligence community release. Reuters also reported, per South Korea's military, that North Korea launched about 10 ballistic missiles off its east coast on August 20, 2026.
Response on the record
Kim Yo Jong, in a statement carried by KCNA, denied that Trump and Kim had had any contact, dismissed the scale-back of the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise as still aggressive, and said that if the United States promotes its measures as a goodwill gesture it will not get the answer it desires, per Reuters, August 20, 2026.
Sources
The document identifier is the citation. The URL is a resolution mechanism, and the archived copy is what the citation resolves to when the live link dies.
-
Truth Social post on Kim Jong Un
Truth Social post ID 117100150900258418, posted August 15, 2026, 11:08 a.m. ET
-
Very positive: Trump says Kim Jong Un has responded to his overtures, Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera, August 18, 2026
-
Trump eyes meeting with Kim Jong Un, says Kim will be fine with a smart president, WTVC
WTVC NewsChannel 9, Sinclair, August 19, 2026
-
Analysis: Trump wants a new meeting with Kim Jong Un, North Korea says not so fast, Reuters via US News
Reuters, August 20, 2026