Nuclear recognition of North Korea: Donald Trump’s North Korea strategy focused on Tokyo’s position over Seoul’s

On January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump called the DPRK a “nuclear power” for the first time. This term had been considered taboo until now because of the implication that it legitimized the North Korean nuclear program.

He emphasized that his relations with Kim Jong-un were “good” and that the latter welcomed his return to the White House. This expresses the new American President’s interest in restoring direct contact between the United States and the DPRK, which do not formally have diplomatic relations.

The announcement of such a position a few hours after the inauguration ceremony confirms the existence of a separate North Korea strategy for the Trump administration.