Overview
- South Korea’s Unification Ministry halted its special Panmunjom trips for late October through early November, and the United Nations Command is reported to have paused its own visitor program over the same period.
- CNN and Lianhe Zaobao reported private U.S. discussions about arranging a Trump–Kim encounter, yet Seoul says nothing is confirmed and there has been no communication with Pyongyang.
- Trump is expected in Korea on Oct. 29–30 ahead of the APEC leaders’ meetings on Oct. 31–Nov. 1 in Gyeongju, with the White House saying he remains open to talks with Kim without preconditions.
- Acting U.S. Ambassador Joseph Yun will leave his post on Oct. 24, with Kevin Kim likely to assume the role in an acting capacity, a timing observers note is unusual before a presidential visit.
- Separate U.S.–South Korea trade talks intensified as Seoul’s negotiators returned to Washington saying most gaps on a tariff and $350 billion investment package have narrowed, with a push to resolve remaining issues without a partial deal before leaders meet.