U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that he “would love” to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during his current Asia tour. Trump did not rule out extending his trip to facilitate the meeting, which would be their first face-to-face encounter since 2019.
Trump is currently traveling in Asia, with stops in Malaysia and Japan, and plans to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday in South Korea to discuss a potential trade deal aimed at ending the ongoing U.S.–China trade war.
Speaking on Air Force One, Trump expressed optimism about reaching a deal with Xi and indicated he was open to engaging with Kim if the North Korean leader wishes to meet. South Korea’s reunification minister described the possibility of a Trump–Kim meeting as “considerable.”
Kim Jong Un has reportedly signaled he would meet Trump if the U.S. drops its demand for North Korea to completely relinquish its nuclear arsenal. Trump is scheduled to arrive in Busan, South Korea, on Wednesday for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, where he will meet South Korean President Lee Jae Myung.
