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Will a Surprise Trump-Kim Jong Un Meeting Happen?
"The Ball Is in Kim Jong Un's Court," Some Remain Skeptical
With about 10 days remaining until the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, there is growing attention on whether a surprise meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong Un will take place.
On October 18 (local time), CNN reported, citing U.S. government sources, that the Trump administration had privately discussed the possibility of President Trump holding talks with Chairman Kim during his upcoming Asia tour, which coincides with the APEC summit next week. President Trump is scheduled to begin his Asia tour at the end of this month and is expected to visit South Korea on October 29-30, just before the APEC summit.
Since the launch of his second administration, President Trump has mentioned the possibility of a meeting, highlighting his personal rapport with Chairman Kim. Minister of Unification Chung Dongyoung also stated during a recent parliamentary audit that "based on analysis of publicly available information and data, both leaders appear to be prepared for a summit."
The United Nations Command is reportedly considering temporarily suspending special tours of Panmunjom around the time of President Trump's visit to South Korea, in anticipation of a possible summit between the two leaders. The United Nations Command stated, "Requests for access to the Joint Security Area (JSA) at Panmunjom are being processed in accordance with procedures to ensure safety and smooth coordination."
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However, some experts believe that the likelihood of the meeting being realized is not high, given the stark differences between the current situation and that of 2019. CNN sources also reported that there has been no actual contact between the United States and North Korea. Lim Eulchul, a professor at Kyungnam University's Institute for Far Eastern Studies, commented, "It appears that the key to a dramatic meeting between the two lies in the hands of Kim Jong Un."
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