# ‘Tit for tat’: Why is Trump cozying up to North Korea’s Kim Jong Un again?

https://mins.news/en/item/26072

- Al Jazeera, 2026-08-19 10:57 UTC
- Politics
- Original: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/19/tit-for-tat-why-is-trump-cozying-up-to-north-koreas-kim-jong-un-again?traffic_source=rss

> Analysts say Donald Trump’s renewed outreach to Kim Jong Un sends political signals to both Pyongyang and Seoul. Trump praised Kim, said their relationship had made the Korean Peninsula safer and ordered a reduction in US-South Korean military drills, which he linked to Seoul’s refusal to assist the US-Israel war on Iran. The move may also be intended to pressure South Korea and support Trump politically ahead of a possible summit.

## Stories

- [US–North Korea Relations and North Korea Policy](https://mins.news/en/topic/us-north-korea-relations) — Markdown: https://mins.news/en/topic/us-north-korea-relations.md

## Related coverage

- [South Korea urges stronger US alliance after Trump says he has a ‘good relationship’ with Kim Jong Un](https://mins.news/en/item/24899) — France 24, 2026-08-18
- [Trump says joint military drills with Seoul send a “hostile” signal to North Korea](https://mins.news/en/video/24750) — DW News, 2026-08-18
- [Trump says DPRK responded after US-ROK drill cuts](https://mins.news/en/item/24710) — CGTN, 2026-08-18
