On Thursday, the Presidential Office announced that it had been aware in advance of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s decision to attend the Victory Day event in China and had accordingly prepared to achieve tangible results during the South Korea-U.S. summit.
This move is seen as an effort to encourage U.S. President Donald Trump, who has expressed interest in meeting with Kim, to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. The invitation comes amid expectations that North Korea will ramp up its international activities following its participation in the Victory Day event.
During a press briefing at the Yongsan Presidential Office, Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik stated that the government was aware of this in advance. Further noting that it also received reports from the relevant agencies that an announcement would be made on the same day.
According to China’s Foreign Ministry and North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency, Kim will attend the Victory Day event in Beijing on September 3 at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping. The specific schedule for his visit to China has not yet been disclosed. The South Korean government has also decided to send a delegation led by National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-sik, raising the possibility of the first inter-Korean contact during the Chinese Victory Day celebrations since the inauguration of the Lee Jae-myung administration.
Kang added that the South Korea-U.S. summit was influenced by these underlying factors, and it can interpret recent developments as part of this ongoing trend. He further noted that the channels for dialogue and cooperation between the two countries remain open. The Presidential Office clarified that it is willing to engage in dialogue with North Korea at any time and is closely monitoring the situation there.
Analysts suggest that the mutual understanding between the two leaders regarding North Korea served as a catalyst for the South Korea-U.S. summit. President Lee was able to build rapport through their shared interest in North Korea, creating the impression that he could assist President Trump, who aspires to win a Nobel Peace Prize.
During the meeting, President Lee told President Trump that if they can create peace on the Korean Peninsula—the only divided nation in the world—it hopes it can meet with Chairman Kim and help build a Trump World in North Korea. Further highlighting that this would give him the chance to enjoy some golf while you act as a historic peacemaker, and if he assumes the role of a peacemaker, he will wholeheartedly support him as a pacemaker.
President Trump responded that he looks forward to meeting with Chairman Kim and will work to improve relations. He believes there is a role he can play in inter-Korean affairs, and thinks it can cooperate with the South Korean leader.
A Presidential Office official stated that President Lee emphasized the importance of the U.S. and President Trump’s role in achieving peace on the Korean Peninsula and stability in Northeast Asia during the summit. He suggested that meeting with China and North Korea at APEC might be a possibility, indicating that the country could serve as a mediator. This appears to have alleviated some concerns and misunderstandings in the U.S. regarding the Lee administration being seen as pro-China.
Professor Min Jeong-hoon of Korea National Diplomatic Academy noted that President Trump is very eager to meet with President Xi. He likely viewed the APEC discussions very positively. Further noting that while the chances of Kim attending APEC are slim, it could lead to a meeting in the demilitarized zone (DMZ) involving South Korea, North Korea, and the U.S. It seems the South Korean government is also trying to actively seize this opportunity.