Gyeongju: U.S. President Donald Trump announced that a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will not occur during his current visit to South Korea. This announcement came shortly after Trump’s arrival in Gyeongju for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings and a summit with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Trump mentioned at the beginning of his summit with President Lee that he and Kim were unable to “work out timing” for a meeting. Trump’s visit, spanning from Wednesday to Thursday, had fueled speculation of a possible meeting with Kim aimed at reviving discussions on North Korea’s nuclear weapons program.
Trump and Kim have met three times before, with their encounters taking place in Singapore, Vietnam, and the inter-Korean truce village of Panmunjom during Trump’s first term. Panmunjom was considered a potential venue for a fourth meeting if it were to occur. Trump acknowledged the ongoing state of war between the Koreas and expressed his intent to work towards resolving it.
The previous Trump-Kim meetings sought to reach an agreement on denuclearizing North Korea in exchange for U.S. concessions, such as easing sanctions. However, talks had previously stalled due to disagreements over the steps involved. Despite Trump’s willingness to meet with Kim and his openness to prolong his stay in South Korea, North Korea has not publicly responded to these overtures. The country recently conducted a test of nuclear-capable cruise missiles, possibly indicating disinterest in immediate diplomatic discussions.