New york: South Korea's top envoy to the United States, Ambassador Kang Kyung-wha, has stated that there is currently no indication that U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will meet during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit scheduled to take place in Korea later this month.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Ambassador Kang made these remarks at a parliamentary audit at the South Korean mission to the U.N. in New York. This comes amid ongoing speculation about whether President Trump might seek to reengage with Kim Jong-un when he visits Korea for the APEC gathering, set to occur in the southeastern city of Gyeongju on October 31 and November 1.
Kang acknowledged that while President Trump has expressed openness to dialogue and North Korea has shown indications of leaning towards discussions, there is no concrete sign that a Trump-Kim meeting will materialize during the APEC summit. She emphasized that efforts are ongoing to monitor developments, leaving open the possibility of such an encounter.
Last month, the White House reiterated Trump's willingness to engage in talks with Kim without preconditions. This statement fueled speculation about a potential resumption of Trump's personal diplomacy with the North Korean leader during his upcoming visit to Korea. Kim Jong-un has also shown a willingness to resume talks if the U.S. drops its demand for North Korea's denuclearization.
Trump's previous personal diplomacy efforts led to three in-person meetings with Kim during his first term: in Singapore in June 2018, in Hanoi in February 2019, and at the inter-Korean border truce village of Panmunjom in June 2019. However, when asked about the possibility of Kim seeking U.S. recognition of its nuclear arms in exchange for a meeting with Trump, Ambassador Kang refrained from making any prejudgments.
Kang also commented on the potential meeting between South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Trump during the APEC summit, stating that final-stage coordination is underway to ensure the summit takes place. She reaffirmed Seoul's commitment to reducing tensions and promoting peace on the Korean Peninsula, emphasizing the importance of dialogue with North Korea and cooperation with Washington.
Her statements came as South Korea aims to resume inter-Korean engagement despite Pyongyang's continued push to advance its nuclear and missile programs. Kang highlighted plans to strengthen consultations and cooperation between South Korea and the U.S. to address Korean Peninsula issues and establish peace and stability.
In discussing the August 25 summit between Lee and Trump, Kang noted the strong trust and commitment to cooperation at the highest level established between the two leaders. She expressed intentions to achieve visible outcomes in various sectors, including diplomacy, security, defense, shipbuilding, atomic energy, and cutting-edge technologies.
Plans for high-level exchanges between Seoul and Washington at upcoming multilateral forums, such as the East Asia Summit in Malaysia, the APEC summit in South Korea, and the Group of 20 summit in Johannesburg, were also shared by Kang.
Furthermore, the ambassador stated that her embassy would continue to support ongoing trade talks to finalize details of a trade deal between Seoul and Washington, struck in July. She noted the importance of managing key economic and trade issues raised by the U.S. side, with negotiations ongoing to resolve the specifics of South Korea's $350 billion investment commitment.
Kang also addressed the delay in her presentation of credentials to Trump, which was initially scheduled for Friday. While a copy of the credentials has been submitted to the U.S. government, the formal presentation has been postponed. This delay raises uncertainty about her ability to accompany Trump during his planned visit to South Korea for the APEC summit. Kang noted the importance of protocol in terms of an ambassador of the host nation accompanying a foreign leader, expressing her desire to fulfill such a role.