Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un's unique diplomatic relationship

The relationship between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un was characterized by extreme shifts, moving from threats of nuclear destruction to personal correspondence and direct meetings. This dynamic marked a significant departure from decades of diplomatic restraint, as Trump became the first sitting US president to meet personally with a North Korean leader.

Key milestones included three personal meetings and the 2018 summit in Singapore, which lasted approximately four hours and incurred millions of euros in security and organizational costs for the city-state. During their interactions, Kim Jong-un reportedly addressed Trump as ‘Your Excellency’ in letters, and Trump claimed to have provided Kim with a direct phone number for communication.

The relationship began with intense hostility in 2017, with Trump labeling Kim a ‘madman’ and Kim describing Trump as a ‘mentally deranged old man.’ Despite these insults, the two leaders eventually engaged in a unique form of personal diplomacy through frequent letters and high-profile summits.