South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will travel to the Philippines and China next week to attend regional summits, according to his national security adviser. Seoul-based reporting says Lee departs Monday for Manila to take part in the ASEAN summit through Tuesday, then flies to China’s Shenzhen for a two-day schedule that includes the APEC summit.
Officials connected to the trip say Lee’s meetings aim to strengthen mutual trust and cooperation with other heads of state. The stated focus includes South Korea’s role in addressing regional issues such as energy supply chains, transnational crime and food security.
On the question of North Korea’s participation and any prospect of talks involving the United States, at least one report says North Korea is unlikely to attend the APEC summit. It also frames the possibility of dialogue as not impossible but unlikely. Another report adds detail that in Manila, Lee will also attend a Mekong-Korea summit for talks with Mekong-related partners, further shaping the trip’s regional agenda.
