WASHINGTON, 25 October (H.S.): On Friday, the White House definitively stated that a meeting between Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is not scheduled during the president’s upcoming tour of Asia, despite swirling speculation and encouragement from officials in Seoul.

A senior U.S. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed that while Trump remains open to a future dialogue with Kim, no such encounter is planned for this trip.

The president, of course, has expressed his willingness to meet with Kim Jong Un in the future. It is not on the schedule for this trip, the official told reporters.

Trump is scheduled to travel to South Korea next week to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum.The clarification comes after South Korea’s unification minister, Chung Dong-young, suggested on Friday there was a considerable chance of a summit occurring.

Minister Chung had passionately urged the leaders not to let the opportunity slip away, pressing them to make a bold decision for the sake of peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

Speculation had been fueled by reports that Trump administration officials had privately discussed the possibility of arranging a meeting. The last face-to-face discussion between Trump and Kim took place during Trump’s first presidency in June 2019.

More recently, Kim mentioned having fond memories of Trump and indicated an openness to talks, provided the United States abandons its delusional insistence on North Korea’s denuclearization. While this potential high-profile meeting is off the table, Trump’s diplomatic agenda in Asia remains critical, featuring a confirmed meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on October 30 amid ongoing trade tensions.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar