Trump's recent statements about pursuing a 2026 meeting with Kim Jong Un have not shifted expectations for a U.S. visit, as past summits occurred abroad and North Korea maintains no formal diplomatic ties with Washington. Pyongyang's strengthened alignment with Russia and China, coupled with demands for recognition as a nuclear state, reduces incentives for Kim to travel to the United States under current conditions. Logistical, security, and protocol barriers remain substantial for any head-of-state visit absent major diplomatic normalization. Trader consensus reflects these structural realities rather than short-term rhetoric. A late-year breakthrough at events like the APEC summit or unexpected U.S. concessions on sanctions could still create narrow pathways for reconsideration before year-end.