Trump and Kim have each expressed an curiosity in assembly once more, however a US official mentioned a gathering is ‘not on the schedule’.
Donald Trump shouldn’t be scheduled to fulfill North Korean chief Kim Jong Un whereas in South Korea subsequent week, a senior United States official has mentioned, regardless of hypothesis a few assembly whereas the US president excursions Asia.
“The president, in fact, has expressed his willingness to fulfill with Kim Jong Un sooner or later. It’s not on the schedule for this journey,” the senior official, talking on situation of anonymity, instructed reporters in a name on Friday.
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Chatting with reporters earlier than departing for Asia late on Friday night time, President Trump mentioned he wish to meet Kim, however he was unsure if it could occur.
“He is aware of I’m going there,” Trump mentioned, referring to the North Korean chief.
Talking later aboard Air Drive One relating to a potential assembly with Kim, Trump mentioned: “I’d be open one hundred pc. I get alongside very effectively with Kim Jong Un.”
Trump instructed me of wanting to fulfill with Kim Jong Un on his Asia journey: “he is aware of I’m going there.” https://t.co/zqkyELOsol
— Kellie Meyer (@KellieMeyerNews) October 25, 2025
South Korea’s unification minister had mentioned earlier on Friday that he believed there was a “appreciable” probability that Trump would meet Kim whereas he’s within the South Korean metropolis of Gyeongju subsequent week for the Asia-Pacific Financial Cooperation (APEC) Discussion board.
North Korea seems “to be taking note of america, and numerous indicators … counsel a substantial risk of a gathering”, Unification Minister Chung Dong-young instructed reporters, earlier than urging the 2 leaders to not let the chance “slip away”.
“I don’t need to miss even a one % probability,” mentioned Chung, whose ministry handles Seoul’s fraught relations with Pyongyang.
“They should decide,” he mentioned.
Whereas the assembly between Trump and Kim now seems much less possible, the White Home confirmed on Thursday that Trump might be assembly Chinese language President Xi Jinping earlier than he returns to the US from his multi-day go to to Southeast Asia.
Trump will start his journey in Malaysia this weekend, the place he is because of attend the Affiliation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit.
Quite a lot of different high-profile leaders from non-ASEAN international locations may also be current in Malaysia, together with Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
‘Fond recollections’
Trump and Kim met 3 times throughout Trump’s first presidency, with each leaders expressing an curiosity in assembly once more in latest months.
Kim mentioned final month he was open to talks with the US if Washington stops insisting his nation quit its nuclear weapons programme.
The North Korean chief additionally commented on Trump, saying: ” Personally, I nonetheless have fond recollections of US President Trump.”
Kim’s feedback come after each Trump and South Korean chief Lee Jae Myung expressed their willingness to fulfill with their North Korean counterpart throughout a gathering on the White Home in August.
“Sometime, I’ll see him. I look ahead to seeing him. He was superb with me,” Trump mentioned on the time, including that he knew Kim, whose household has dominated North Korea for 3 generations, “higher than anyone, virtually, apart from his sister”.
Lee, who has been vocally supportive of thawing relations together with his nation’s northern neighbour, mentioned on the similar assembly that he hoped the US president would “construct a Trump Tower” in North Korea “in order that I can play golf there”.
North Korea fired a number of short-range ballistic missiles earlier this week, as Seoul made preparations to host the APEC summit subsequent week.
