Seoul: South Korea and the United States have not coordinated agenda items related to a possible meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un this week, the unification minister said Tuesday. Seoul's top point man on North Korea, Chung Dong-young, made the remarks during a parliamentary audit amid speculation that Kim and Trump could meet this week on the occasion of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) gathering.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Chung stated, "I believe there have been no discussions between South Korea and the U.S. based on the assumption of a North Korea-U.S. meeting," when asked if Seoul and Washington have coordinated agenda items such as denuclearization or sanctions relief to brace for a possible Kim-Trump meeting. Chung noted that Trump's recent reference to North Korea as a sort of 'nuclear power' has effectively removed a barrier to dialogue with Kim.
The minister also mentioned that Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of the North's leader, might issue a statement Tuesday or Wednesday regarding North Korea's stance on Trump's proposal to meet with Kim. Trump has made repeated calls signaling his intent to meet with Kim during his trip to South Korea from Oct. 29-30, expressing openness to talks and describing North Korea as a "sort of nuclear power." He also indicated the possibility of sanctions relief for Pyongyang while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Tokyo on Monday.
During the audit session, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun remarked that Trump's comments could "definitely" serve as an inducement to bring Pyongyang back to the dialogue table, although the North may now be seeking a "bigger bill" from Washington. Cho highlighted that, since 2018, North Korea has secured a military pact with Russia and strengthened its ties with China, suggesting that North Korea could be raising its demands for talks with the U.S.
Regarding Trump's suggestion that sanctions relief could be part of a potential offer to Pyongyang, Cho commented, "The sanctions issue is complex, and it will likely be difficult for sanctions relief to serve as a precondition for dialogue. The U.S. stance on sanctions will depend on how North Korea responds at the negotiating table." If realized, it would mark the first meeting between Kim and Trump in more than six years since their surprise brief meeting at the inter-Korean truce village of Panmunjom in 2019.
In the same audit, Cho also mentioned significant differences between the U.S. and other member economies over including a phrase reaffirming the principle of free trade in the upcoming APEC summit declaration. He noted that while there have been instances in the past where APEC leaders failed to issue a joint declaration due to a lack of consensus, negotiators are currently working to produce a consensus-based statement. Cho emphasized the importance of "renewing our commitment to dialogue, problem-solving, and regional partnership" in light of the evolving international economic order.