President Donald Trump said on August 19 that his rapport with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un may be linked to the country’s nuclear arsenal, noting that Kim possesses 57 nuclear weapons and that he gets along well with him. He added that a president who maintains a steady approach would keep Kim secure. Trump said a relationship with Kim could make South Korea and Japan feel safer. He also said he disapproved of large military exercises directed at North Korea while maintaining a friendly stance. The remarks followed his announcement that the Pentagon would reduce joint U.S.–South Korean military training, citing South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s refusal to support his policy toward Iran. Trump argued that the drills send a signal that is inappropriate to North Korea, which he described as having been unthreatening during his presidency. He indicated he plans to meet Kim later this year and declined to confirm whether written correspondence is exchanged. Iranian historian Behrooz Ghamari noted earlier that Iran’s nuclear program seeks greater sovereignty after decades of foreign intervention. The Trump administration has justified its focus on halting Iran’s nuclear development as a means to prevent conflict. The statements suggest that possessing nuclear weapons may affect diplomatic calculations with the current U.S. administration.