--- title: "South Korean President: Trump Wants Dialogue with North Korea" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/south-korean-president-trump-wants-dialogue-with-north-korea" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/south-korean-president-trump-wants-dialogue-with-north-korea" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/south-korean-president-trump-wants-dialogue-with-north-korea.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/south-korean-president-trump-wants-dialogue-with-north-korea" category: "Politics" area: "Asia-Pacific" published: "2026-09-18T09:46:14.263Z" source_reported: "2026-09-18T08:41:57.000Z" updated: "2026-09-18T09:46:14.263Z" trust_score: 42 critic_score: 57 hype_score: 41 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-09-18T09:30:26.242278+00:00" --- # South Korean President: Trump Wants Dialogue with North Korea *Lee Jae-myung also confirmed Seoul will not send troops to intervene in the Iran war.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. Central claim attributed to named body, with two independent outlets and a named source. - Craft 57 of 100, higher is better. Quotes from affected parties, clear fact/comment separation, and specific details provided. - Hype 41 of 100, lower is better. Headline promises a summit, but the body focuses on the desire for dialogue and a refusal to join the Iran war. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - South Korean President Lee Jae-myung stated that U.S. President Donald Trump wants dialogue with North Korea. - Lee Jae-myung confirmed South Korea will not deploy troops to intervene militarily in the Iran war. - Donald Trump plans to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un later this year, according to reports. - North Korea possesses approximately 57 nuclear weapons, according to Trump, while Seoul estimates 80-120. South Korean President Lee Jae-myung stated on 18 September 2026 that U.S. President Donald Trump clearly wants dialogue with North Korea. Lee also confirmed that South Korea will not deploy troops to intervene militarily in the Iran war. Trump has indicated plans to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un later this year, seeking to revive a relationship he claims to have forged during his first term. North Korea has offered little clear response to these overtures. ## Disagreement on North Korea's nuclear arsenal Donald Trump stated that North Korea has approximately 57 nuclear weapons, according to reports. Seoul, however, estimates the number to be between 80 and 120. ## What the coverage left out None of the left-rated reports mention the differing estimates of North Korea's nuclear weapons arsenal provided by Donald Trump and Seoul. The centre-rated reports also do not mention these differing estimates. None of the right-rated reports mention the differing estimates of North Korea's nuclear weapons arsenal provided by Donald Trump and Seoul. ## Who covered it Shares of the 20 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 10% (2) - Centre: 35% (7) - Right: 55% (11) 20 of 40 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-18T09:30:26.242278+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 2 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-18T10:15:28.102Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The left-rated reports focused on South Korean President Lee Jae-myung's statement that Donald Trump clearly wants dialogue with North Korea. They also noted Trump's intention to meet Kim Jong Un later this year. The reports mentioned that Seoul will not deploy troops to intervene militarily in the Iran war. ### Centre - Centre-rated reports highlighted South Korean President Lee Jae-myung's assertion that Donald Trump clearly desires dialogue with North Korea. These reports also mentioned Trump's stated plans to meet Kim Jong Un later this year. The decision by Seoul not to deploy troops for military intervention in the Iran war was also a key point. Some reports noted that nuclear disarmament talks remain deadlocked. ### Right - Right-rated reports led with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung's statement that Donald Trump wants dialogue with North Korea. They also confirmed Seoul's refusal to deploy troops for military intervention in the Iran war. Some reports mentioned Trump's plans to meet Kim Jong Un later this year and highlighted Seoul's efforts to coordinate such a dialogue. **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - low: 1 - mixed: 2 - high: 13 - unknown: 20 - veryHigh: 4 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Euronews](https://euronews.com/2026/09/18/south-korean-president-urges-trump-dialogue-with-pyongyang) — South Korean president urges Trump dialogue with Pyongyang - [pmo.ee](https://pmo.ee/8548435) — Trump Wants Dialogue with North Korea, Seoul Says - [FNN.jpプライムオンライン](https://fnn.jp/articles/-/1117159) — South Korean President Lee Jae-Myung Explicitly States "We Will Not Send Troops to the Strait of Hormuz" in Unusual Press Conference Amid Declining Approval Ratings; Expectations Remain High for the US-North Korea Summit - [Radio France Internationale](https://rfi.fr/en/international-news/20260918-trump-clearly-wants-dialogue-with-pyongyang-south-korean-president) — Trump 'clearly' wants dialogue with Pyongyang: South Korean President - [Kronen Zeitung](https://krone.at/4299417) — New Summit with Kim? South Korea Encourages Trump - [jauns.lv](https://jauns.lv/raksts/arzemes/729241-tramps-velas-atsakt-dialogu-ar-ziemelkoreju-norada-dienvidkorejas-prezidents) — Trump Wants to Resume Dialogue with North Korea, Says South Korean President - [Islamabad Post](https://islamabadpost.com.pk/trump-clearly-wants-dialogue-with-pyongyang-south-korean-president) — Trump ‘clearly’ wants dialogue with Pyongyang: South Korean President - [La Dépêche du Midi](https://ladepeche.fr/2026/09/18/donald-trump-veut-clairement-renouer-le-dialogue-avec-kim-jong-un-le-president-americain-a-assure-quil-comptait-rencontrer-son-homologue-nord-coreen-13556986.php) — Donald Trump "Clearly" Wants to Resume Dialogue with Kim Jong One: US President Assured that He Intends to Meet His North Korean Counterpart Before the End of the Year - [연합뉴스-Yonhap News Agency](https://yna.co.kr/view/AKR20260918123800001) — Former President Moon: "Trump's Will for Dialogue with North Korea Is Relief... Kim Jong-UN Must Respond" - [Die Presse](https://diepresse.com/41272634/trump-wuenscht-dialog-suedkoreas-staatschef-sieht-annaeherung-an) — "Trump Wishes for Dialogue: South Korea's Head of State Sees Rapprochement with... - [OnAlert](https://onalert.gr/kosmos/o-tramp-thelei-dialogo-me-ti-voreia-korea-kai-ton-entharryno-apokalypse-o-proedros-tis-notias-koreas/820279) — Trump Wants Dialogue with North Korea and I Encourage Him, South Korean President Reveals - [Expressen](https://expressen.se/nyheter/varlden/sydkorea-vi-gar-inte-in-i-irankriget) — South Korea: We Will Not Participate in Trump's War - [Unknown](https://rethemnosnews.gr/kosmos/726652_tramp-kim-synantisi-mehri-telos-tis-hronias-xekatharo-oti-epithymei-na-xanarhisei-o) — Trump-Kim, Meeting by the End of the Year - It Is Clear that He Wants to Resume Dialogue, Says the President of South Korea - [insider.gr](https://insider.gr/politiki/425248/proedros-notias-koreas-o-tramp-thelei-xekathara-dialogo-me-ti-boreia-korea) — South Korean President: Trump 'Clearly' Wants Dialogue with North Korea - [www.cnews.fr](https://cnews.fr/monde/2026-09-18/coree-du-nord-donald-trump-souhaite-clairement-dialoguer-avec-kim-jong-un-estime) — North Korea: Donald Trump "Clearly" Wants to Dialogue with Kim Jong-UN, South Korean President Says - [Privátbankár.hu](https://privatbankar.hu/cikkek/makro/del-kora-mar-tudja-azt-amit-mi-meg-nem-is-sejtunk.html) — South Korea Already Knows What We Don't Even Know - [The Frontier Post](https://thefrontierpost.com/trump-clearly-wants-dialogue-with-pyongyang-south-korean-president) — Trump ‘clearly’ wants dialogue with Pyongyang: South Korean President - [France24](https://france24.com/en/live-news/20260918-trump-clearly-wants-dialogue-with-pyongyang-south-korean-president) — Trump 'clearly' wants dialogue with Pyongyang: South Korean President - [coastaltvnews.com](https://coastaltvnews.com/business/trump-clearly-wants-dialogue-with-pyongyang-south-korean-president/article_16142055-abc3-546b-be8b-93c887892912.html) — Trump 'clearly' wants dialogue with Pyongyang: South Korean President - [rtl.lu](https://today.rtl.lu/news/world/trump-clearly-wants-dialogue-with-pyongyang-south-korean-president-499609278) — Seoul not deploying troops to Iran war: Trump 'clearly' wants dialogue with Pyongyang: South Korean President - [Arab News](https://arabnews.com/world/trump-clearly-wants-dialogue-with-pyongyang-south-korean-president-3002184) — Trump ‘clearly’ wants dialogue with Pyongyang: South Korean President - [sigmalive.com](https://sigmalive.com/news/international/1329889/o-tramp-thelei-dialogho-me-ti-boreia-korea-krinei-o-proedros-tis-n-koreas-li) — Trump Wants Dialogue with North Korea - South Korean President Lee Says - [Naftemporiki](https://naftemporiki.gr/kosmos/2163197/proedros-notias-koreas-o-tramp-thelei-xekathara-dialogo-me-ti-voreia-korea-kai-ton-entharryno) — South Korean President: Trump "Clearly" Wants Dialogue with North Korea and I Encourage Him - [Agenzia giornalistica Opinione](https://agenziagiornalisticaopinione.it/opinionmix/ladige-it-attualita-presidente-lee-trump-vuole-chiaramente-un-dialogo-con-la-corea-del-nord) — Trump and North Korea: South Korea Pushes for Dialogue - [sofokleousin.gr](https://sofokleousin.gr/epikairotita/diethni/tramp-thelei-ksekathara-dialogo-me-ti-voreia-korea) — Trump: He "Clearly" Wants Dialogue with North Korea - [Iefimerida](https://iefimerida.gr/kosmos/tramp-kim-synantisi-mehri-telos-tis-hronias) — Trump-Kim, Meeting by the End of the Year - It Is Clear that He Wants the Dialogue to Resume, Says the President of South Korea - iefimerida.gr - [NK News](https://nknews.org/?p=979730) — South Korea will continue to help ‘create an opening’ for Trump-Kim summit: Lee - [ΑΘΗΝΑ 9,84](https://athina984.gr/2026/09/18/notia-korea-o-tramp-thelei-xekathara-dialogo-me-ton-kim-giongk-oyn) — South Korea: "Trump Clearly Wants Dialogue with Kim Jong UN" - [Business Daily](https://businessdaily.gr/diethni/232748_o-tramp-epidiokei-epanenarxi-dialogoy-ipa-boreias-koreas-dilonei-o-li) — Trump Seeks Clear Dialogue with North Korea, Says Lee - [Clarin](https://clarin.com/estados-unidos/seul-subraya-sus-esfuerzos-para-coordinar-un-dialogo-entre-trump-y-kim-jong-un_0_dhWveOGjJQ.html) — Seoul Underlines Its Efforts to Coordinate a Dialogue Between Trump and Kim Jong-UN - [The Straits Times](https://straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/trump-clearly-wants-dialogue-with-pyongyang-south-korean-president) — Trump ‘clearly’ wants dialogue with Pyongyang: South Korean President - [The Hindu](https://thehindu.com/news/international/trump-clearly-wants-dialogue-with-pyongyang-south-korean-president/article71479331.ece) — Trump 'clearly' wants dialogue with Pyongyang: South Korean President - [asiae.co.kr](https://asiae.co.kr/article/2026091812380824576) — President Lee: "We Have a Role to Play in 'North Korea-US Dialogue'... No Need to Worry About Korea Being Bypassed" - [15min.lt](https://15min.lt/naujiena/aktualu/pasaulis/pietu-korejos-prezidentas-donaldas-trumpas-aiskiai-nori-dialogo-su-siaures-koreja-57-2766456) — South Korean President: Donald Trump Clearly Wants Dialogue with North Korea - [Lietuvos Radijas ir Televizija](https://lrt.lt/naujienos/pasaulyje/6/3056007/pietu-korejos-prezidentas-trumpas-aiskiai-nori-dialogo-su-siaures-koreja) — South Korean President: Trump Clearly Wants Dialogue with North Korea - [El Economista](https://eleconomista.com.mx/internacionales/presidente-surcoreano-afirma-trump-claramente-busca-dialogo-corea-norte-20260917-834091.html) — South Korean President Says Trump "Clearly" Seeks Dialogue with North Korea · Global Voices - [Svenska Dagbladet](https://svd.se/a/rr68Aa/sydkorea-ingen-militar-inblandning-i-irankriget) — South Korea: We Will Not Enter the Iran War - [Deccan Chronicle](https://deccanchronicle.com/world/trump-clearly-wants-dialogue-with-pyongyang-south-korean-president-1988350) — Trump 'Clearly' Wants Dialogue With Pyongyang: South Korean President - [ANSA](https://ansa.it/sito/notizie/topnews/2026/09/18/presidente-lee-trump-vuole-chiaramente-un-dialogo-con-la-corea-del-nord_7cd3fc36-0d26-4f12-a425-9018700bd4a8.html) — President Lee, Trump Wants 'Clearly' a Dialogue with North Korea - [Free Malaysia Today News](https://freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2026/09/18/trump-clearly-wants-dialogue-with-pyongyang-says-south-korean-president) — Trump ‘clearly’ wants dialogue with Pyongyang, says South Korean president ## Questions **What did South Korean President Lee Jae-myung say about Donald Trump and North Korea?** President Lee Jae-myung stated that U.S. President Donald Trump clearly wants dialogue with North Korea. He also indicated that South Korea is coordinating efforts to facilitate such dialogue and that a meeting between Trump and Kim Jong Un is possible, though difficult. **Will South Korea send troops to the Iran war?** No, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung confirmed that Seoul will not be deploying troops or military assets to intervene militarily in the Iran war. He reiterated that South Korea upholds the principle of non-involvement and non-intervention in the conflict. **What is the estimate for North Korea's nuclear weapons?** Donald Trump stated that North Korea possesses approximately 57 nuclear weapons. Seoul, however, estimates the number to be between 80 and 120. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/south-korean-president-trump-wants-dialogue-with-north-korea. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "South Korean President: Trump Wants Dialogue with North Korea", https://mediabias.news/politics/south-korean-president-trump-wants-dialogue-with-north-korea