South Korea's Unification Minister, Chung Dong-young, has publicly called for a "bold decision" from U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to meet during the American president's upcoming visit to the region . Minister Chung described the occasion of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) gathering in South Korea as a "golden opportunity" and an "opportunity from the heavens" for dialogue that could pave the way for peace on the Korean Peninsula . He emphasized that the logistical ease of meeting in South Korea presents a rare chance that should not be missed, as it would be much more difficult to arrange such a meeting elsewhere .
The possibility of a meeting has been fueled by observable preparations and official statements. Minister Chung pointed to specific "signs" detected at the truce village of Panmunjom, located in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) . For the first time this year, North Koreans were seen cleaning their facility, plucking grass, arranging flowerbeds, and taking photographs in the area . Adding to the speculation, the United Nations Command has suspended tours of the Joint Security Area (JSA) at Panmunjom from late October to early November . These factors, combined with Trump's own expressed hope to meet with Kim "within this year," have created an atmosphere of anticipation .
A meeting next week would mark the fourth between the two leaders, following three historic summits during President Trump's first term in office . The last time they met was in June 2019 at Panmunjom, where President Trump made history by stepping across the demarcation line into North Korea . While past discussions have stalled over the issue of denuclearization and sanctions relief, the North Korean leader has recently signaled openness, stating he has "fond memories" of Trump and remains willing to talk if the U.S. abandons its "delusional obsession" with Pyongyang giving up its nuclear weapons . This indicates that for any new dialogue to succeed, a shift in the U.S. approach may be necessary to address the core concerns of the DPRK.
The push for dialogue from Seoul underscores the high stakes involved. Minister Chung has argued that a successful meeting between the U.S. and North Korean leaders would directly contribute to guaranteeing peace and stability, which in turn would help improve North Korea's international standing and the lives of its people . As the international community watches, the APEC summit represents a critical juncture. The outcome hinges on whether both leaders can seize this diplomatic opening to break the long-standing deadlock and initiate a new process aimed at achieving a lasting and stable peace regime on the Korean Peninsula .