South Korea’s Prime Minister Holds Unscheduled White House Meeting With Trump on North Korea
South Korea’s Prime Minister Kim Min-seok held an unscheduled, roughly 20-minute conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on the 13th during his trip to the United States. The discussion, conducted mainly about North Korea, occurred in the Oval Office with no interpreter present.
Kim said the session began after he met with Pastor Paula White, head of the Office of Faith-Based Initiatives, who helped arrange the Oval Office meeting. He noted the dialogue was not on a public schedule and lasted about 20 minutes.
During the talk, Kim said he reminded Trump that President Lee Jae-myung frequently speaks highly of Trump, arguing that Trump is the only leader capable of resolving the Korean Peninsula issue. He said Trump showed interest in North Korea and asked to have a photo of Kim Jong Un and Trump from Panmunjom brought to the room for reference.
Kim reported that Trump asked whether Kim Jong Un would be willing to engage in dialogue with the United States, indicating openness to such a possibility. He added that Trump appeared to be considering a path toward engagement, asking questions to his aides about what steps might be appropriate.
The prime minister also described North Korea’s recent shift in tone, from saying there was “no reason to meet” to suggesting “there is no reason for us to be hostile,” as signaling potential room for normalization and dialogue.
Kim said Trump took his remarks seriously and reacted with visible interest, though he declined to disclose specifics about any possible proposals. He stated that Trump instructed his aides to determine what actions might be advisable, while noting he could not reveal how things were directed.
Kim said he would prepare an English memo summarizing the talks and share it with U.S. officials before his departure. He also noted that Trump’s impending trip to China later this month makes this encounter potentially a stepping-stone for renewed North Korea-U.S. dialogue.
Separately, Kim said he met the day before with Vice President JD Vance and USTR chief Jamieson Grier. Grier stressed that Korea is not being singled out under Section 301 investigations and suggested that, depending on circumstances, Korea could enjoy more favorable terms than some other countries. Such remarks underscore ongoing U.S.-Korea trade and security discussions amid broader North Korea diplomacy considerations.