Washington
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is still open to speaking with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, a White House official said. Trump hopes to reach a deal for a “fully denuclearised” North Korea, even as his administration announced new actions against Pyongyang this week.
The announcement follows Thursday’s sanctions targeting North Korea’s illicit revenue efforts. The U.S. offered rewards for information on seven North Koreans suspected of helping fund the country's nuclear and missile programs.
The official noted that Trump’s past efforts included three historic meetings with Kim during his first term. These summits occurred in Singapore (2018), Hanoi (2019), and Panmunjom (2019). They marked the first-ever leader-level talks between the U.S. and North Korea on denuclearisation.
"President Trump remains committed to the goal of a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula," the official told South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency. “He is open to engaging with Leader Kim to achieve this objective.”
When asked whether the new sanctions suggest that diplomatic efforts have stalled, the official emphasized that Trump still views direct engagement as a viable path.
On Thursday, the Trump administration also sanctioned a North Korean trading company and warned that the U.S. “will not stand idly by” while Pyongyang profits from illegal schemes to fund its weapons programs. These include crypto theft, oil smuggling, sending IT workers abroad, and selling counterfeit goods.
Last month, Trump said he would “get the conflict solved” if one arises, further hinting at a possible renewed diplomatic push.
The international community continues to monitor North Korea's activities amid ongoing global concerns over its weapons development.