Trump says he 'may' meet N. Korean leader Kim during upcoming Asia trip
Quick Look
US President Donald Trump said he may meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during his upcoming Asia trip, which includes attending the APEC summit in Shenzhen, China, raising prospects for renewed diplomacy after their three previous in-person meetings.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Trump and Kim Jong-un held three in-person meetings: in Singapore in June 2018, Hanoi in February 2019, and at the inter-Korean border village of Panmunjom. Trump has previously expressed hope to meet Kim later this year and stated he gets along well with the North Korean leader.
WASHINGTON (Yonhap) -- US President Donald Trump said Monday that he may meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during his upcoming trip to Asia, raising the possibility of renewed summit diplomacy between Washington and Pyongyang.
Asked by a reporter at the White House on whether he plans to meet Kim during the trip, Trump replied, "I may," adding, "That'll be exciting, won't it? But I get along with him."
Trump plans to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in China, scheduled for November 18-19 in Shenzhen.
In August, Trump said that he hopes to meet Kim later this year, adding to speculation that he might seek to rekindle his personal diplomacy with Kim that led to three bilateral in-person meetings: the first in Singapore in June 2018, the second in Hanoi in February 2019 and the third at the inter-Korean border village of Panmunjom.
On Saturday, Trump said at a campaign rally in Ohio that he "gets along great" with the North Korean leader as he stressed the importance of maintaining good relations with leaders of nuclear-armed nations.
Tommy Pigott, spokesperson for the State Department, said earlier that Trump does not view talks with North Korea as a "concession" and is willing to engage Pyongyang if doing so serves US national interests.
What to Watch
AI outlook โ possibilities, not facts
Trump will meet Kim Jong-un during his Asia trip
Possible ยท Within weeks
The meeting, if it occurs, will take place on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Shenzhen
Possible ยท Within weeks
Open Questions
- Whether the meeting will actually occur during the Asia trip
- What specific agenda or goals would be discussed in a potential Trump-Kim meeting
- How North Korea will respond to the prospect of renewed talks
- Whether the meeting would involve discussions on denuclearization
