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Trump’s relationship with Kim Jong-un began with a war of words. Early in his presidency, Trump famously nicknamed the North Korean leader “Little Rocket Man.” This was followed by a now-infamous tweet in 2018: “North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un just stated that the ‘Nuclear Button is on his desk at all times.’ Will someone from his depleted and food-starved regime please inform him that I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger & more powerful one than his, and my Button works!”
Despite this fiery start, Trump shifted gears by pursuing direct talks with Kim. Their first historic meeting occurred in Singapore in June 2018. It was the first-ever summit between a sitting U.S. president and a North Korean leader. The two met again in Hanoi in February 2019, though the summit ended abruptly when negotiations on denuclearization stalled. In June 2019, Trump made history again by crossing into North Korea via the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) to meet Kim for a third time.
While critics debated the success of Trump’s “good cop/bad cop” approach, the results were clear on one front: North Korea refrained from conducting long-range missile tests from November 2017 until the end of Trump’s presidency. Analysts viewed this as a significant pause, reflecting Pyongyang’s apparent caution in the face of Trump’s unpredictable style.
However, tensions escalated in the lead-up to last week’s U.S. election. On Nov. 1, North Korea boasted of test-launching a new intercontinental ballistic missile, calling it the “world’s strongest.” The Associated Press reported that Kim had “ordered a series of ballistic missile tests” and claimed progress toward a capability to strike the U.S. mainland.
Since Trump left office, North Korea’s international posture has shifted dramatically. Pyongyang has forged closer ties with Moscow, deploying 12,000 troops to assist Russian efforts in Ukraine and supplying suicide drones and other munitions. These moves underscore North Korea’s deepening alignment with adversaries of the U.S.
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Trump’s handling of North Korea was described by former President Barack Obama as the most urgent national security challenge facing the U.S. When Trump took office, he faced the issue head-on, forcing Kim Jong-un to halt long-range missile tests and participate in direct talks—unthinkable under previous administrations.
Now, North Korea’s reluctance to comment on Trump’s election victory speaks volumes. Pyongyang may not be eager to see the return of a leader who demanded accountability and left the regime with few options but to engage.
For a nation as insular and strategic as North Korea, this silence is as telling as any statement. Trump’s reelection could signal the return of a leader unafraid to confront Kim Jong-un’s provocations head-on, leaving the world to wonder what lies ahead in this renewed chapter of U.S.-North Korea relations.
