Donald Trump has made several recent overtures to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un for a new summit, seven years after their meeting in Hanoi ended inconclusively. Over the summer, he abruptly reduced the scale of the annual US–South Korea joint military exercises. Four times in the space of nine days, he posted pictures of Kim on his Truth Social account in an apparent wooing exercise.

These efforts have so far failed to lure Kim to the negotiation table. Kim Yo-jong, his powerful sister who occupies the number-two position in the North Korean hierarchy, declared on August 19 that North Korea has no interest in a new summit with the United States.

At the same time, she left a door slightly ajar by remarking that her brother retains good memories and feelings about Trump from their past summits. Trump responded in kind by sharing four throwback pictures of the two on Truth Social. South Korea’s spy agency, the National Intelligence Service, reported to lawmakers that a summit between Trump and Kim could take place at any time, citing signs of dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang.