As President Donald Trump prepares for his Asian tour, he has strongly expressed his willingness to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, drawing attention to Pyongyang’s potential response. The possibility of a déjà vu moment reminiscent of the 2019 surprise meeting at Panmunjom during the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit now depends on North Korea’s decision.
According to AFP and Reuters reports on October 24, President Trump, speaking to reporters at the White House before departing for Asia, stated that he would very much like to meet Kim. He (Kim) knows they’re going there, Trump remarked.
The President continued that he’s not sure, but they’ve informed them. Kim knows that Trump’s going. Trump emphasized his complete openness to meeting Kim, saying he’s 100% open to it and adding, he’d get along very well with him.
Trump has repeatedly stressed his desire to meet with Kim during his visit to South Korea from October 29-30, which coincides with the APEC summit. This indicates that no official schedule for a U.S.-North Korea leaders’ meeting has yet been set. A senior White House official also noted that while Trump has expressed interest in meeting Kim in the future, it is not included in this trip’s itinerary, though potential changes remain possible.
Under these circumstances, the realization of a U.S.-North Korea meeting now hinges on Kim’s reaction. The key factor will be whether North Korea perceives this potential meeting as beneficial or detrimental to its interests.
If a meeting occurs on short notice without a well-coordinated agenda, it is likely to be more symbolic in nature—aimed at creating a photo opportunity rather than engaging in substantive discussions. It remains uncertain how receptive Kim would be to such a scenario. Last month, during a Supreme People’s Assembly meeting, Kim asserted that time is on their side, and the longer time passes, the more advantageous it becomes for them. Given this stance, North Korea may be reluctant to pursue a meeting without a clear agenda for an immediate resolution.
North Korea is also expected to consider how a U.S.-North Korea meeting might affect its relationships with its allies. President Trump is scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on October 30. North Korea may wait to assess any North Korea-related messages or agenda items emerging from this meeting before deciding on U.S.-North Korea talks. Given the rapidly improving North Korea-China relations following Kim’s recent meeting with Xi, North Korea might align its strategy regarding the U.S. with China’s approach.
North Korea’s characterization of its relationship with Russia as a blood alliance and its increased military cooperation could also be influential factors. In particular, as the U.S. supports Ukraine, Russia’s adversary, North Korea may prioritize maintaining its strategic relationship with Russia.
Technical considerations will also play a role. As North Korea’s Supreme Leader, Kim is meticulous about protocol and security arrangements when meeting world leaders. The feasibility of satisfying North Korea’s expectations in these aspects will be crucial.
Even if a Kim-Trump meeting does not materialize, there is the potential for message exchanges through official channels. With U.S. officials visiting the Korean Peninsula, there remains optimism for potential contact or informal discussions between U.S. and North Korean representatives.
The South Korean government currently welcomes the prospect of a U.S.-North Korea summit, viewing it as a potential catalyst to break the inter-Korean impasse through improved U.S.-North Korea relations.
In a CNN interview on October 23, President Lee Jae Myung expressed full support for a potential sudden meeting between the U.S. and North Korea.
On October 24, Unification Minister Chung Dong-young told reporters that he does not want to miss even a 1% chance of a U.S.-North Korea meeting. He urged Kim to make a decisive choice, stating that the leaders of the U.S. and North Korea must not miss this opportunity (APEC). They need to make a decision.