During their first summit, South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung urged Donald Trump to act as peacemaker on North Korea, while both leaders advanced trade and defense cooperation.
Kim Jong-un oversaw the launch of new surface-to-air missiles on August 23, a move seen as a counter to allied drills and summits ahead of the Korea-U.S. meeting.
Kim Jong-un has awarded national commendations to North Korean commanders returning from Russia, highlighting their role in the Kursk operation and reinforcing the deployment’s legitimacy.
Kim Yo-jong called South Korean President Lee Jae Myung a “powerless dreamer” and rejected Seoul as a diplomatic counterpart, underscoring North Korea’s hardening stance.
Kim Jong-un condemned the South Korea-U.S. military drills as a clear signal of a “will to ignite war,” vowing stronger military action and expanded naval power.
On Liberation Day, Kim Jong-un avoided mention of U.S. ties and instead underscored the growing DPRK-Russia friendship, hosting a senior Russian delegation in Pyongyang.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a rare, publicly acknowledged phone call ahead of the U.S.-Russia summit, signaling close coordination on Ukraine and broader strategic issues.
