Donald Trump has renewed efforts to engage North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, raising hopes of revived diplomacy but also questions about regional security. Trump ordered a substantial reduction in joint US-South Korean military exercises, describing them as costly and provocative, while expressing confidence in his personal relationship with Kim. Reports suggest he hopes to meet the North Korean leader later this year, possibly during an Asian visit. However, Pyongyang has dismissed the scaled-back exercises as an ineffective goodwill gesture, insisting that their continuation still represents a threat. North Korea has meanwhile strengthened military cooperation with Russia and continued developing its nuclear and missile capabilities. The unexpected reduction in exercises caused concern in South Korea about defence readiness and Washington’s reliability. Trump held unprecedented summits with Kim during his first presidency, but those negotiations ultimately failed to secure North Korea’s denuclearisation.