Archive · 16 Aug 2026
Trump Says He and Kim Jong Un 'Get Along Great'
Donald Trump leads the United States, and Kim Jong Un leads North Korea, a country that is often at odds with America.
Trump recently shared a picture of the two of them walking together and said they 'get along great.'
The picture came from a famous meeting in Singapore in 2018, when the two leaders met face to face for the first time.
They met three times to talk about peace, but they could not agree about North Korea's nuclear weapons.
Now the United States and South Korea are planning big practice drills for their military.
North Korea says these drills are provocative and unfair.
It recently tested a rocket too, which shows the two sides still do not trust each other.
Trump says he would love to meet Kim again, but North Korea has not said whether it wants to.
Talking can help countries become friends, but this problem is very hard to fix.
Trump posted a throwback photo with Kim Jong Un on Truth Social, writing that the two 'get along GREAT' despite the photo's 'unfriendly look.'
The photo was from their historic 2018 Singapore summit, the first meeting between a sitting US president and a North Korean leader.
Trump and Kim held three meetings during Trump's first presidency, but their 2019 Hanoi summit ended without an agreement over the nuclear programme and sanctions relief.
The remarks came as North Korea criticised the upcoming US-South Korea Ulchi Freedom Shield drills, scheduled for August 17-27.
North Korea has continued to reject denuclearisation, condemned the US and allies after the NATO summit in July, and conducted a suspected ballistic missile launch on August 12.
- Who
- US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, along with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and officials in North Korea's Foreign Ministry.
- What
- Trump said he and Kim 'get along GREAT' in a Truth Social post sharing a photo from their 2018 Singapore summit, even as North Korea rejects denuclearisation and criticises upcoming US-South Korea military drills.
- When
- The post's exact date was not stated; it came ahead of US-South Korea exercises scheduled for August 17-27 and followed a suspected North Korean missile launch on August 12.
- Where
- Truth Social; the photo was from the 2018 summit in Singapore, and the tensions concern joint exercises involving the United States and South Korea.
- Why
- Trump appeared to strike a conciliatory tone and remain open to renewed engagement with Kim despite stalled talks over North Korea's nuclear programme.
US and allied view
North Korean view
Military exercises
US and allied view
The US and South Korea say the upcoming Ulchi Freedom Shield drills, including training on drones, GPS disruption and cyberattacks, help their forces adapt to North Korea's evolving military capabilities.
North Korean view
North Korea calls the drills provocative and says US-Japan-South Korea cooperation is developing into a 'nuclear alliance,' warning it will respond to a new level of threat with a new level of deterrence.
Denuclearisation
US and allied view
Washington wants progress on North Korea's nuclear programme, and the 2019 summit stalled over the nuclear issue and sanctions relief; South Korea says Trump is open to a phased approach.
North Korean view
Pyongyang rejects calls to give up its nuclear arsenal and says it will protect its sovereignty and security through its own military capabilities.
Renewed diplomacy
US and allied view
Trump says the two leaders get along great and has said he would 'love' to meet Kim again, signalling openness to direct engagement.
North Korean view
Pyongyang has not publicly responded to Trump's earlier offer of another meeting and continues to conduct missile tests, showing persistent distrust.
- Leaders involved
- US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un
- Same photo re-post
- Trump posted the same image on June 14, 2026, without a caption
- Previous meetings
- Three summits during Trump's first presidency; the 2018 Singapore summit was the first ever between a sitting US president and a North Korean leader
- Deadlocked summit
- The 2019 Hanoi summit ended without agreement over North Korea's nuclear programme and sanctions relief
- Upcoming military drills
- Ulchi Freedom Shield, August 17-27, featuring training on drones, GPS disruption and cyberattacks
- Recent tensions
- A suspected ballistic missile launch on August 12; July condemnation of US and allies after the NATO summit
- North Korea's warning
- US-Japan-South Korea cooperation is a 'nuclear alliance'; Pyongyang promises a new level of deterrence
- South Korean proposal
- President Lee Jae Myung said in June 2026 that Trump was open to a phased approach to the nuclear programme (Reuters)