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U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un -- Official White House Photo

WASHINGTON —US President Donald Trump said North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has responded to his recent efforts to reopen direct communication with Pyongyang, without providing details of the response.

Trump made the comment at the White House on Monday when asked why Kim had not responded to his attempts to reestablish contact.

The statement came a day after Trump ordered the Pentagon to substantially reduce joint military exercises with South Korea, arguing that the drills are costly and that South Korea had declined to participate in operations against Iran.

North Korea has long criticised the US-South Korean military exercises, describing them as preparations for a potential conflict.

Trump also described North Korea as having been “unthreatening and respectful” toward his administration and said he believed he understood Kim and that Kim understood him.

Trump and Kim held two high-profile summits during Trump’s first term, in 2018 and 2019, but negotiations stalled over North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme and sanctions.

Since their last meeting, North Korea has strengthened its relationships with Russia and China, while its military cooperation with Moscow has also expanded.

Despite Pyongyang’s previous reluctance to respond to Trump’s overtures, analysts cited in the report said another meeting between the two leaders remains possible, with the timing likely to depend on North Korea’s interests and strategic calculations.

No details of Kim’s reported response have been made public, and neither the White House nor North Korea’s mission to the United Nations had immediately commented on Trump’s remarks.