Donald Trump, the President of the U.S., is set to embark on a tour of Asian countries, including South Korea, during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. A senior U.S. official confirmed on October 24 that meetings with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un are not currently on the itinerary.
The official stated during a pre-trip briefing that while President Trump has expressed interest in meeting with Kim in the future, such a meeting is not scheduled for this trip.
However, the official left room for potential changes, noting that of course, circumstances can evolve.
President Trump is set to depart the White House around 11:00 p.m. tonight for his Asian tour, returning on Thursday. His itinerary begins in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (October 26 to 27), followed by visits to Japan (Monday to Wednesday) and South Korea (Wednesday to Thursday).
On the first day of his South Korean visit, Wednesday, Trump will hold talks with President Lee Jae Myung. The following day, he will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Speculation has arisen about the possibility of President Trump meeting with Kim at the Korean Demilitarized Zone during this trip.
Additionally, the senior official expressed a strong desire to finalize an investment agreement with South Korea as both nations navigate tariff negotiations regarding a 350 billion USD investment plan.
When asked if the 350 billion USD investment includes a separate 150 billion USD for shipbuilding, the official responded that it anticipates further outcomes from the ongoing trade and investment agreements, adding that it hopes to announce more details soon. The official emphasized that President Trump is deeply committed to revitalizing the shipbuilding industry and is seeking insights from previous generations.
He welcomed not only South Korea’s expertise but also Japan’s know-how and capital investment, stating that they also welcome comprehensive cooperation to support the U.S. defense manufacturing sector, shipbuilding, and submarine construction.
On July 30, South Korea announced that it had reached a verbal agreement on a trade deal with the U.S., committing to invest 150 billion USD of the 350 billion USD investment plan into the Make America Shipbuilding Great Again (MASGA) project. Recently, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Koo Yun-cheol mentioned that discussions regarding South Korea’s specialized investment proposal for MASGA are ongoing during his visit to the U.S.
The senior official noted that most discussions regarding the investment agreement with South Korea are primarily handled by the Department of Commerce, emphasizing that these matters are more about investment and procurement than trade. He added that as long as South Korea is willing to fulfill commitments they deem appropriate, it aims to finalize the agreement as swiftly as possible.
Regarding the U.S.-China summit scheduled for Thursday, the last day of the trip, the official stated that it aims for a comprehensive agreement to end the intense trade war between the world’s two largest economies. He explained that President Trump will host the U.S.-China summit with President Xi in Busan, South Korea, with both leaders making state visits to the country.
When asked whether the Taiwan issue would be discussed, the official replied that it’s impossible to predict exactly what the leaders will talk about, adding that they also can’t anticipate what proposals China might present at the meeting, but President Trump is primarily focused on discussing trade and economic matters.
The official provided an overview of the upcoming Asian tour, stating that President Trump will visit Asia, one of the world’s most economically dynamic regions, to sign a series of economic agreements that will deliver tangible results for the American people.
He added that these agreements will further reshape the global economic order, create high-wage jobs, and secure more investments to promote America’s reindustrialization. He emphasized that these agreements would include forward-looking and robust trade deals benefiting American workers, exporters, farmers, small businesses, and digital innovators.
The official also mentioned plans to establish key mineral agreements to quickly leverage resources in the region, supporting a resilient and prosperous global economy with stable industrial supply chains.
He noted that in Malaysia, President Trump will preside over a significant peace agreement aimed at saving more lives in a free and open Indo-Pacific region, reducing conflicts, and enhancing security.
Furthermore, he stated that on October 26, the President would hold a bilateral meeting with the Malaysian Prime Minister and attend a working dinner with U.S.-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders that evening.
In Japan, the President plans to meet with the newly inaugurated Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, a close associate of the late former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and will have an audience with the Emperor.
Regarding the schedule in South Korea starting on Wednesday, the official said that President Trump will meet with dozens of Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and visit U.S. military bases, adding that he will deliver a speech to business leaders immediately upon arrival.
He continued that President Trump will participate in a bilateral schedule hosted by President Lee and will later attend a state dinner with key regional leaders.
