Trump's Asia trip: North Korea meeting hopes dim after midterm setback
Hopes of a meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during Mr Trump's planned Asia trip in November appear to be fading, analysts say, after the president's party suffered setbacks in the US midterm elections.
Mr Trump had said he "may" meet Mr Kim this month and that it "would be exciting". But in October he appeared to retreat, saying: "I don't know... I'm not sure that anybody's asking for a meeting." He added that his "relationship with Kim Jong Un is very good".
The prospect of a summit has been watched closely in Asia. Mr Trump's emphasis on North Korea and his decision to scale back joint US-South Korean military exercises have worried some allies, according to analysts, and have led to speculation that he is seeking a foreign policy achievement as the war with Iran continues.
The joint exercises are a long-standing part of the US-South Korea alliance, and any reduction is closely watched in the region. Mr Trump has argued that his personal relationship with Mr Kim can help reduce tensions, but past summits have not produced a lasting agreement on North Korea's nuclear programme.
On Wednesday, November 4, 2026, Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of the North Korean leader, signalled that Pyongyang had little appetite for renewed dialogue with Washington. She said there was "no need to sit face to face with such unreliable and hostile persons". Her remarks suggested that North Korea is not preparing for a summit.
In Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview on the same day that he hoped Democratic gains in the US midterm elections would generate more help for Ukraine in its war with Russia. "I am also grateful to the Republicans, but the Democrats speak very clearly about supporting Ukraine and providing assistance to Ukraine," he said in comments provided in German by ZDF before the interview was broadcast.
Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress in the midterms, a result widely interpreted as a rejection of Mr Trump's party and his policies. The vote reflected deep anger over living costs, tariffs and the war with Iran, which has sent fuel prices higher and added to dissatisfaction with an already unpopular president.
The midterm elections took place against a backdrop of economic pressure and public concern over the cost of living, tariffs and the war with Iran. The outcome has changed the political landscape in Washington, with Democrats now in control of both chambers.
At the White House on Wednesday, Mr Trump backed Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth as questions swirled about his future after the midterm setback. Asked whether he was considering replacing Mr Hegseth, whom he has described as a champion of the war, Mr Trump told reporters: "No, I think he's doing a very good job."
The results are likely to shape the political context for Mr Trump's foreign policy, including his planned Asia trip and US support for Ukraine. Analysts say the loss of congressional control could reduce his room for manoeuvre abroad. There was no immediate indication that the Asia trip would be changed.
