Moscow: North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui is set to visit Russia and Belarus at the invitation of the governments of these two nations, as reported by North Korea’s state media on Sunday. This diplomatic trip is drawing significant attention given the current geopolitical climate and the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Russia’s foreign ministry later confirmed that Choe will embark on a three-day working visit to Moscow from Sunday through Tuesday. This marks her first visit to Russia in about a year, following her previous trip in November when she met with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The timing of Choe’s visit coincides with growing speculation regarding the potential for another meeting between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump, who is scheduled to visit South Korea later this week for the APEC summit. However, Choe’s visit to Russia may indicate that such a meeting is becoming less likely.

As Trump prepares for his trip to Asia, including stops in Malaysia and Japan, he has reiterated his willingness to meet with Kim, stating he is “open” to another meeting if Kim is interested. Despite this, observers believe the chances of such a meeting are slim, given North Korea’s recent alignment with Russia, including supporting Moscow’s military efforts in Ukraine, and its ongoing efforts to restore ties with China.

Kim Jong-un has expressed a willingness to engage with the U.S., but only if Washington drops its demand for North Korea’s denuclearization. During a press briefing aboard Air Force One en route to Malaysia, Trump referred to North Korea as “sort of a nuclear power” when asked about Pyongyang’s stance on being recognized as a nuclear state for talks with the U.S.

A senior U.S. official noted that a meeting between Trump and Kim is not currently on the agenda for Trump’s Asia trip, though they added that “things can change.”