by Son Seonhee
Published 24 Jul.2025 09:57(KST)
The government is reportedly considering inviting Kim Jong Un, Chairman of North Korea's State Affairs Commission, to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, which will be held in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, at the end of October. However, even if the invitation is extended, it is unlikely that Chairman Kim will actually attend.
On the 24th, an official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated regarding the possibility of inviting Chairman Kim to APEC, "North Korea is not an APEC member, so in principle, it is not eligible to participate in the APEC Summit." The official added, "However, in line with recent precedents, the host country may invite non-members and hold informal dialogues on the sidelines of the summit."
The official continued, "This year's non-member invitations are being reviewed comprehensively, taking into account various factors such as the fundamental purpose of APEC, the relevance to this year's theme and key agenda items, and bilateral relations with the countries being considered for invitation."
In particular, the official noted, "If North Korea is to be invited, consultations with APEC member states are also necessary," and added, "Currently, there are no ongoing discussions within APEC regarding North Korea's participation in this year's summit."
Even if the government officially invites North Korea after consultations with APEC member states, the likelihood of Chairman Kim accepting the invitation remains low. However, under the Lee Jaemyung administration, the government has consistently made gestures of reconciliation, such as the complete suspension of anti-North Korea broadcasts. The potential APEC invitation is also seen as part of these ongoing efforts.
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