South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington on March 13, 2026, for a 20-minute talk. Trump expressed positivity about resuming dialogue with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un but left the timing open. The two also discussed bilateral trade and investment issues.
South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok held talks with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington on March 13, 2026, local time. The meeting came shortly after South Korea's parliament passed a special bill on Thursday committing to a $350 billion investment in the United States. Trump had previously voiced discomfort over the delay, threatening to raise tariffs from 15 percent to 25 percent.
During the 20-minute discussion, Trump showed interest in resuming dialogue with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. In a briefing, Kim said, "President Trump expressed it this way. He said, 'Meeting (Kim) is something good. But it could come during the period of my visit to China. It may not happen (during the visit) or could take place afterward.'" Trump asked Kim whether Kim Jong-un wants dialogue with the U.S. and showed a photo from their June 2019 Panmunjom meeting.
Kim told Trump that he is "the only leader" capable of addressing Korean Peninsula issues and suggested increasing contacts with North Korea. Trump directed his aides to consider steps related to U.S.-North Korea relations. Kim noted North Korea's recent rhetoric, from "no reason not to meet" the U.S. to indicating interest in normalizing ties.
On Thursday, Kim met Vice President JD Vance and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to discuss Section 301 trade investigations into 16 economies, including South Korea. Greer said South Korea could be in a more advantageous position than others. The talks fueled speculation about Trump reengaging North Korea during his upcoming China trip from late March to early April.
