Washington, August 19, 2026: U.S. President Donald Trump is pushing his aides to arrange a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as early as this fall, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal, citing U.S. officials.

Trump has reportedly discussed holding an in-person meeting with Kim during his next trip to Asia. One possible opportunity could come in November, when leaders are expected to gather in Shenzhen, China, for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. However, no formal planning for a summit is currently underway, according to the report.

A renewed Trump-Kim meeting would mark another attempt to revive direct diplomacy between Washington and Pyongyang. The two leaders previously met three times during Trump's first term, beginning with their historic 2018 summit in Singapore. Their 2019 Hanoi summit ended without an agreement, while a subsequent meeting at the inter-Korean border failed to restart substantive negotiations.

The latest push comes amid renewed efforts by the Trump administration to reduce tensions on the Korean Peninsula. The United States and South Korea have also agreed to shorten and scale back their annual joint military exercises, a move linked to Trump's stated desire to improve relations with Kim.

The prospects for a breakthrough remain uncertain. North Korea has continued to expand its nuclear and missile capabilities and has strengthened ties with China and Russia, potentially giving Pyongyang greater leverage in any future negotiations.

A new Trump-Kim summit, if it takes place, could therefore become a major diplomatic development and potentially reshape the security and diplomatic landscape of the Korean Peninsula.