Overview

• A Seoul foreign ministry official said a Trump–Kim meeting on the sidelines of APEC cannot be ruled out, with leaders set to gather in Gyeongju on Oct. 31–Nov. 1.
• South Korea’s Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said President Lee asked Trump to be a peacemaker and that Trump welcomed the request and expressed willingness to reengage with North Korea.
• North Korean state media quoted Kim Jong Un saying he has good memories of Trump and would consider talks only if Washington drops denuclearization demands, calling nuclear weapons non-negotiable.
• The U.S. State Department reiterated that the administration remains committed to the complete denuclearization of North Korea, highlighting a persistent policy gap.
• Analysts say APEC could provide an opening for sideline diplomacy, with Xi Jinping expected to attend and Pyongyang buoyed by closer ties with China and Russia, though no meeting has been confirmed.