US administration officials are “quietly” discussing a possible meeting between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The meeting may be planned during Donald Trump’s upcoming visit to Asia, CNN reported, citing sources familiar with the matter.
In August, after hosting South Korean President Lee Jae Myung at the White House for the first time, Donald Trump expressed interest in meeting Kim Jong Un.
Officials have not initiated logistical arrangements or direct communication with Pyongyang, and Trump’s previous contact earlier this year was reportedly rebuffed by North Korea, the report added.
Seoul has also previously said that a fringe meeting between the United States and North Korea “cannot be ruled out.”
Trump has also said he hopes to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un again, possibly this year, while Pyongyang has said Kim is open to future talks under certain circumstances. Also read | ‘I have fond memories of Donald Trump’: North Korea’s Kim Jong-un is open to talks only if ‘the US drops…’
Trump and Kim Jong-un met three times during the US president’s first term, but did not sign an agreement on North Korea’s nuclear program.
APEC summit
Donald Trump is expected to arrive in South Korea on October 29 for the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. In a statement, South Korea’s presidential office said the US president would arrive on the 29th.
US officials say Trump may meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, which runs until January 1.
During the APEC summit, Trump is also likely to meet with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung.
Last week, Trump threatened to cancel a planned meeting with Xi at the forum in retaliation for Beijing imposing export restrictions on rare earth technology.
But US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC on Wednesday that Trump still plans to meet with Xi.
Donald Trump said on Friday (October 17) that his proposed 100 percent tariffs on Chinese imports would not be sustainable as he hoped that relations with the country would be on track when he meets President Xi Jinping in South Korea in two weeks.
The US president also blamed China for the latest setback in trade talks, citing Beijing’s move to tighten controls on rare earth exports.
“I think we’ll be fine with China, but we have to have a fair deal. It has to be fair,” Donald Trump said.
