According to recent reports, officials in the Trump administration are privately considering the possibility of arranging a meeting between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during an upcoming trip to Asia . This potential diplomatic engagement, while not yet confirmed, highlights a continued openness to dialogue.
The concept of a meeting was reportedly suggested during a summit between Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung at the White House in August . President Lee posited that the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea could provide a "great opportunity" for such an engagement . The report indicates that President Trump reacted openly to the idea and said he would consider it .
A face-to-face meeting between the US and North Korean leaders is not without precedent. Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un have met in person several times during Trump's first term, and the American president has referred to them as good acquaintances, noting an absence of problems with the DPRK since his return to office . However, diplomatic channels have since stalled. CNN reports that a letter from Trump to the North Korean leader sent earlier this year ultimately went unanswered , and prior outreach from the US was reportedly rejected by Pyongyang .
For any such high-level meeting to occur, significant groundwork is required. As of now, officials have not begun the necessary logistical arrangements or established direct communications with Pyongyang . The South Korean government has stated that while both sides have expressed openness to dialogue, there is no current confirmation of a meeting taking place at the APEC summit . South Korea's top envoy to the US noted they are closely monitoring developments and remain open to the possibility .