Gyeongju: A meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is "very unlikely" to happen during this week's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation gathering in South Korea, a senior South Korean presidential official said Monday. Third Deputy National Security Adviser Oh Hyun-joo addressed ongoing speculation about the potential meeting, noting that Trump is scheduled to arrive in South Korea on Wednesday for the gathering in Gyeongju.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Oh commented on the rumors during a meeting with foreign media in Seoul, stating, "There are talks the two could meet, but (I) believe that possibility is very unlikely." This remark follows Trump's earlier statement aboard Air Force One, where he expressed openness to meeting Kim during his upcoming visit to South Korea.

Oh emphasized that while the possibility of a meeting is slim, Seoul is prepared to make necessary arrangements if such an opportunity presents itself, referencing the 2019 meeting between Trump and Kim at the inter-Korean truce village of Panmunjom, which was organized swiftly.

Furthermore, Oh mentioned that President Lee Jae Myung does not see a necessity for South Korea to be involved in a potential meeting between North Korea and the United States. This differs from the 2019 summit when then-President Moon Jae-in joined Trump and Kim at Panmunjom.

When queried about whether Washington had requested Seoul's assistance in arranging a meeting with North Korea, Oh clarified that there had been no such request to her knowledge.