Trump Says He Will Meet Kim Jong‑Un This Year, Raising Stakes for Korean Peninsula

Former U.S. President Donald Trump publicly stated his intention to sit down with North Korean leader Kim Jong‑un before the end of 2024. Trump also asserted that North Korea currently fields 57 nuclear weapons, a figure contested by South Korean defense analysts who estimate a stockpile of 80 to 120 warheads. The announcement has intensified debate in Seoul over the future of the U.S.–ROK security partnership. While President Yoon praised the prospect of high‑level talks as a possible avenue for peace, opposition parties cautioned that any diplomatic overture must not come at the expense of deterrence. They highlighted the long‑standing role of joint military exercises in containing the North and warned that a premature reduction could embolden Pyongyang.