Trump-Kim Meeting Not Scheduled During Asia Trip: What's Next for US-North Korea Relations

The last meeting between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un occurred in June 2019.

A senior US official confirmed Friday that Donald Trump is not scheduled to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during his upcoming visit to South Korea next week, despite widespread speculation about a potential encounter during the US president's Asia tour.

"The president has certainly expressed his willingness to meet with Kim Jong Un in the future. However, it is not included on the schedule for this trip," stated the senior official who spoke anonymously to reporters during a briefing call.

Earlier on Friday, South Korea's unification minister had suggested there was a "considerable" possibility that Trump would meet Kim during his peninsula visit next week.

Trump is scheduled to arrive in South Korea on Wednesday to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum.

North Korea appears to be "paying attention to the United States and various indicators... suggest a significant possibility of a meeting," according to unification minister Chung Dong-young's statement to reporters.

US media reports have indicated that administration officials have privately discussed arranging a meeting between Trump and the North Korean leader, whom he last engaged with in 2019 during his first presidential term.

Trump has previously expressed his desire to meet with Kim again, possibly within this year.

Kim mentioned last month that he had "fond memories" of Trump and would be open to discussions if the United States abandoned its "delusional" demand for Pyongyang to relinquish its nuclear arsenal.

Seoul urged both leaders on Friday not to let this opportunity "slip away."

"I don't want to miss even a one percent chance," remarked Chung, whose ministry handles the complex relations with North Korea. "They need to make a decision."