Trump Open to Kim Jong-un Meeting Amid Asia Trip
As President Donald Trump embarks on an extensive tour of Asia, he has indicated openness to a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, alongside high-stakes trade negotiations with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trump departed Washington on Friday evening for a five-day visit that will include stops in Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea, marking his first presidential trip to the region.
During his journey, Trump is also scheduled to meet with Qatar’s Emir for a refueling stop en route to Malaysia. The President will be accompanied by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with discussions expected to focus on the ceasefire in Gaza and the potential for a second phase of de-escalation.
A key objective of Trump’s visit is his meeting with Xi Jinping on the final day of the trip, aimed at resolving the ongoing trade war between the United States and China. Preparations for this encounter began on Saturday, with senior economic officials from both nations holding preliminary talks in Kuala Lumpur on the escalating tariff dispute. A U.S. Treasury spokesperson described these initial discussions as “very constructive.”
Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump expressed optimism for a “very good meeting” with Xi, anticipating that China would reach an agreement to avert the imposition of 100% tariffs on November 1st. He also alluded to the possibility of meeting Kim Jong-un, stating, “I would. If you want to put out the word, I’m open to it. I had a great relationship with him.” When questioned about North Korea’s demand for recognition as a nuclear state as a prerequisite for dialogue, Trump acknowledged their nuclear capabilities, noting, “Well, they got a lot of nuclear weapons, I’ll say that.” The two leaders have met three times previously during Trump’s first term. Kim Jong-un has also indicated a willingness to meet with the U.S. President if Washington abandons its demand for Pyongyang to dismantle its nuclear arsenal.
South Korea’s Unification Minister stated on Friday that there was a “considerable” chance of a meeting between Trump and Kim during the President’s visit to South Korea. Reports from CNN, citing anonymous sources, also indicated that U.S. officials had discussed arranging such a meeting. However, prior to his departure, U.S. officials sought to temper expectations, informing reporters that no meeting with the North Korean leader was currently planned.
The President’s itinerary begins in Malaysia with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, where he is expected to sign a trade agreement and oversee the signing of a peace accord between Thailand and Cambodia. He also anticipates meeting Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to improve bilateral ties.
Next, Trump will travel to Tokyo to meet with Japan’s newly appointed Prime Minister, who is expected to continue her predecessor’s plans for increased military spending and significant investments in the U.S.
The focal point of the trip is anticipated to be South Korea, where Trump will attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. Here, he is expected to engage in discussions with Xi Jinping, focusing on halting the trade war initiated by U.S. tariffs earlier this year, particularly in light of recent disputes over China’s rare earth mineral restrictions. Trump had initially threatened to cancel the meeting and announced new 100% tariffs during that dispute, before ultimately confirming his attendance.
While U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent initially described the meeting with Xi as a “pull-aside,” President Trump later indicated it would be a “pretty long meeting” to address their differences. A potential interim trade agreement could involve tariff adjustments, an extension of current rates, or commitments from China to purchase U.S. agricultural and aviation products.
Trump has warned that tariffs on Chinese imports could increase to as much as 155% if a trade deal is not reached by November 1st. Beyond trade, discussions between the leaders are expected to encompass Taiwan and Russia, given the current U.S. sanctions on Moscow over the war in Ukraine. Trump also stated that the issue of Taiwan would likely be raised during his talks with Xi. Furthermore, he indicated he would likely address the case of Jimmy Lai, founder of the now-defunct pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, who is serving a prison sentence in Hong Kong under national security laws. “It’s on my list. I’m going to ask… We’ll see what happens,” Trump told reporters.
– minjun (huh0303@gmail.com)
