Kim Jong Un is ghosting Donald Trump — and it’s working

Published September 1, 2026 7:00am ET



President Donald Trump has made clear that he wants to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un again, saying he hopes to arrange a meeting later this year. The two leaders held their first historic summit in Singapore in 2018, a second in Vietnam in 2019, and a brief meeting at the Demilitarized Zone later in 2019. However, the Hanoi summit ended without an agreement after the two sides failed to bridge their differences over North Korea’s denuclearization and U.S. sanctions.

Seven years later, Trump is once again reaching out to Kim. But North Korea’s response this time is different.

Already a print subscriber? Click here to login/register your account

Trusted reporting.Unlimited access.

Subscribe for full access to Washington Examiner coverage, expert political analysis, and subscriber-only journalism.

Get Unlimited Access

Already a member? Log in

Cancel anytime.