Former President Donald Trump confirmed on Wednesday that he plans to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un later this year. The announcement follows a report from The Wall Street Journal that Trump had requested aides arrange an in-person meeting with the North Korean supreme leader, with speculation that the summit could occur during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) event in Shenzhen, China, in November.
Trump's outreach to Kim comes after his directive to scale back the annual joint military exercises between the U.S. and South Korea. He described the drills, known as Ulchi Freedom Shield, as "costly" and stated they send an "inappropriate and hostile" signal to North Korea. Following Trump's comments, the Pentagon and South Korean military agreed to shorten the 11-day exercise, concluding it on August 21, six days earlier than scheduled, and to reduce some planned activities. South Korean military officials indicated they were not given advance notice of Trump's directive.
During his remarks on Wednesday, Trump also stated that North Korea possesses 57 nuclear weapons, a specific figure not previously reported, though prior estimates placed the nation's stockpile closer to 60. Trump criticized past administrations for allowing North Korea to develop its arsenal, asserting, "If I were president, I wouldn't have allowed it."
Trump met with Kim three times during his presidency, including a notable meeting at the Korean demilitarized zone (DMZ) in June 2019. 
When questioned about whether he had exchanged personal letters with Kim, Trump declined to answer, stating, "I can't tell you that." He had previously mentioned being in communication with Kim during an event on Monday.