Trump open to meeting North Korea’s Kim on Asia trip but nothing scheduled

Kim Jong Un, a senior US official, confirmed that Donald Trump will not meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a visit to South Korea next week despite rumors that the US president might have had the opportunity to do so while he is in Asia.

“The president has, of course, indicated that he is open to speaking with Kim Jong Un in the future. The senior official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told reporters in a Friday call that it was against the schedule for this trip.

President Trump stated to reporters before heading for Asia late on Friday night that he wanted to meet Kim, but he was unsure whether or not it would happen.

Trump reportedly made reference to the North Korean leader by saying, “He knows I’m going there.”

Trump stated in a later interview with Kim aboard Air Force One that he would be “always ready to go.” Kim Jong Un and I get along very well.

Trump said to me, “He knows I’m going there,” when I asked about meeting with Kim Jong Un in Asia. https://t.co/zqkyELOsol

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum minister in Gyeongju next week had earlier stated earlier on Friday that he thought there was a “considerable” chance that Trump would meet Kim.

Unification Minister Chung Dong-young told reporters, “North Korea appears to be paying attention to the United States, and various indicators (…) suggest a significant possibility of a meeting,” before urging the two leaders to refrain from allowing the opportunity to “slip away.”

Chung, whose ministry oversees Seoul’s tense relations with Pyongyang, said, “I don’t want to miss even a one-percent chance.”

He said, “They must make a decision.”

Trump and Kim’s meeting appears less likely now, but the White House confirmed on Thursday that he will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping before his multi-day trip to Southeast Asia returns to the US.

This weekend, Trump will begin his trip to Malaysia, where he will take part in the ASEAN summit.

In Malaysia, Sanae Takaichi, the new prime minister of Japan, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the president of South Africa, and Cyril Ramaphosa will be among the other prominent leaders from non-ASEAN nations.

“Favorable memories”

During Trump’s first term as president, the two leaders met three times, with both leaders saying they wanted to meet again in the future.

Kim stated last month that he was willing to talk with the US if Washington stops requesting that China give up its nuclear weapons program.

Trump’s comments were also made by the North Korean leader, who added, “Personally, I still have fond memories of US President Trump.”

Kim’s comments follow Trump’s and Lee Jae Myung’s statements that both their North Korean counterparts would like to meet at a White House meeting in August.

I’ll see him someday, I promise. I’m anxious to meet him. Trump claimed at the time that he knew Kim, whose family has ruled North Korea for three generations, “better than anyone, almost, except his sister.”

Lee, who has long expressed his support for the thawing of ties with his nation’s northern neighbor, stated at the same meeting that he hoped the US would “build a Trump Tower” in North Korea so that I can play golf there.