South Korean officials say North Korea is unlikely to attend next week’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen, China, and that the chances of contact with the United States during the event are slim. While officials do not rule out every possibility, they assess that any US–North Korea talks around APEC are unlikely.
Coverage also references speculation about a potential meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, prompted by Trump’s earlier remarks. Korea Times adds context that changes in Trump’s domestic political standing after the Nov. 3 U.S. midterm elections have reduced momentum for unconventional diplomacy. It also notes that any US engagement on the APEC sidelines is expected to focus on other pressing international issues, including possible contacts involving China and Russia.
Most other outlets largely repeat the core position attributed to a South Korean presidential official: that North Korea’s participation in multilateral events at APEC is improbable and that US–North Korea talks are not expected, though neither side is presented as having zero possibility.
