President Trump Donald John TrumpOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Pelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate MORE is taking increased control over nuclear negotiations with North Korea, according to a Monday report by Time magazine.

Citing officials familiar with the matter, the news outlet reports Trump halted an endeavor by negotiator Stephen Biegun to reach the Hermit Kingdom through its United Nations mission in New York City.

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Trump has also reportedly said he is not concerned by findings by the CIA, the departments of State and Defense, and other agencies that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will continue the country's nuclear program, saying he can strike up a deal.

“The President’s constant refrain is that Kim is his ‘friend,’ ” one official told the magazine.

White House spokesman Hogan Gidley told Time that Trump values his advisers.

“The President has said repeatedly he values his national security and intelligence teams, and that the North Koreans have a major opportunity for a strong economic future if they denuclearize,” he said.

Negotiations between Trump and Kim at a summit in Vietnam last month collapsed without an agreement. Trump defended his decision to walk away from a potential deal, saying that the foreign power wanted U.S. sanctions lifted completely, which the president said he couldn't agree to.

"Basically, they wanted the sanctions lifted in their entirety, and we couldn’t do that," Trump said. "They were willing to denuke a large portion of the areas we wanted, but we couldn’t give up all of the sanctions for that."

"Sometimes you have to walk, and this was just one of those times," he added.

The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment.