Donald Trump would talk to North Korea's leader to seek end to nuclear programme

The interaction would mark a marked shift in US foreign policy

Kim Jong-un waves to spectators during a 2013 military parade (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential candidate, has said that he is willing to talk with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un in an effort to try and stop Pyongyang's nuclear programme.

In a proposal that would make a major shift in the US’ stance towards the isolated nation, Mr Trump declined to share details of his plans to deal with North Korea, but said he was open to a face-to-face meeting with its leader.

“I would speak to him, I would have no problem speaking to him,” Mr Trump told Reuters.

Kim Jong Un during the Workers' Party Congress in Pyongyang (Reuters)

The 69-year-old tycoon has struggled to answer questions about his apparent lack of knowledge and expertise on foreign affairs and doubts have been raised about some of those he has sought advice from.

In a wide-ranging interview with the news agency, Mr Trump also said he disapproved of Russian President Vladimir Putin's actions in eastern Ukraine, called for a renegotiation of the Paris climate accord, and said he would dismantle most of the Dodd-Frank financial regulations if he was elected president.

Mr Trump said he would also push China, North Korea’s only major diplomatic and economic supporter, to help find a solution.

“I would put a lot of pressure on China because economically we have tremendous power over China,” he said.

Senior Republicans are fearful of the potential damage Donald Trump could cause in failing to become president (Reuters)

Mr Trump's preparedness to meet the North Korean leader contrasts with President Barack Obama’s policy of relying on senior U.S. officials to talk to senior North Korean officials. Mr Obama has not engaged personally with Kim.

The New York billionaire said he is “not a big fan” of the Paris climate accord, which prescribes reductions in carbon emissions by more than 170 countries, and would want to renegotiate it because it gives favourable treatment to countries like China.

A renegotiation of the pact would be a major setback for what was hailed as the first truly global climate accord, committing both rich and poor nations to reining in the rise in greenhouse gas emissions blamed for warming the planet.

On Russia, Mr Trump tempered past praise of Mr Putin, saying the nice comments the Russian leader has made about him in the past would only go so far.

“The fact that he said good things about me doesn’t mean that it’s going to help him in a negotiation. It won’t help him at all,” he said.