Trump says he’s ready to rekindle his bromance with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un

President Donald Trump said Friday he was ready to resume his friendship with North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un, calling it ‘a tremendous asset for the world.’

During his first term, Trump met Kim three times including one visit to the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea.

‘We will have relations with North Korea, with Kim Jong Un,’ he said during a press conference standing beside Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. ‘I got along with him very well, as you know.

‘I think I stopped a war.’

His warm words come just four days after Secretary of State angered North Korea by calling it a ‘rogue state.’

For its part, Pyongyang is pressing ahead with its weapons program. It has tested short range ballistic missiles, hypersonic weapons, and strategic cruise missiles already this year.

Trump said he discussed the status of North Korea with Ishiba.

And he emphasized his willingness to cut deals with the world’s pariahs.

That stance riled some allies during his first term, who feared that the meetings with Kim allowed him on to the world stage without having to make concessions or pare back his nuclear stockpile.

But Trump said the approach was vital to stability. 

‘If I can have a relationship with not only him, but other people throughout the world where there seem to be difficulties, I think that’s a tremendous asset for the world, not just the United States,’ he said.

For his part, Ishiba laid out the big picture as he described their earlier meeting. 

‘Regarding North Korea, we affirmed the need to address its nuclear and missile program, which poses a serious threat to Japan, the US and beyond, and that Japan and the US will work together toward the complete denuclearization of North Korea,’ he said. 

Trump welcomed him to the White House earlier by shouting, ‘I love Japan,’ when asked by reporters what his message was for the country. 

Later in the Oval Office Trump said they would work together to get the U.S. trade deficit down to ‘even.’

‘Should be pretty easy to do,’ he said. ‘I don’t think we’ll have any problem whatsoever. They want fairness too.’.

President Donald Trump meets with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, in Washington.

A senior Trump administration official told reporters the leaders would discuss military training exercises, increased cooperation on defense equipment and technology, foreign investment and energy.

In less than three weeks in office, the president has upended foreign relations by threatening trade wars and unveiling a plan to take ownership of the Gaza Strip.

But he has adopted a more conventional approach to the Indo-Pacific region when he wants to hold China in check.

‘The United States is proud of our long and close alliance with Japan,’ the official said. 

‘Our two nations will continue to work together to ensure we deter threats in the region through our full range of military capabilities.’