US President Donald Trump announced he intends to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un later this year, while asserting that North Korea possesses 57 nuclear weapons in an unusually specific public assessment.

During a tour of a new White House helipad on Wednesday, US President Donald Trump confirmed plans to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in 2026, marking their first encounter since Trump's return to office. Trump did not provide specifics about the timing or location, though the Wall Street Journal reported that Trump is considering a meeting during an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in China scheduled for November.

In the same statement, Trump made a notably precise claim about North Korea's nuclear arsenal, stating that Kim Jong Un possesses 57 "very powerful" nuclear weapons. Trump criticized previous administrations for allowing North Korea to develop its atomic capability, saying "if I were president, I wouldn't have allowed it." However, he suggested his personal relationship with the North Korean leader would allow productive engagement on the issue.

The announcement comes shortly after Trump ordered the United States to scale back military exercises with South Korea, citing his "good relationship" with Kim Jong Un as justification. Trump and Kim met three times during Trump's first presidency, with Trump previously characterizing their relationship in personal terms. While Trump has recently hinted at ongoing communications with Kim, he stopped short of confirming whether the pair continue to exchange correspondence.

Kim Jong Un's sister responded to reports of communication between her brother and Trump by stating she was "unaware" of such contacts, though she characterized ties between North Korea and the United States as remaining "excellent." The sister's comments suggest uncertainty within North Korea's leadership about the extent of direct communications with Washington.