Trump Wants Meeting with Kim without Any Preconditions : Report

U.S. President Donald Trump's offer to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un "without preconditions" has fueled speculation of a possible surprise encounter on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting in South Korea later this month, according to local analysts Wednesday.

Seoul officials are watching cautiously for a potential Trump-Kim meeting as the U.S. leader is widely expected to attend the APEC summit in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, from Oct. 31 to Nov. 1.

A White House official said Tuesday (local time) that Trump remains open to engagement with Kim.

"President Trump in his first term held three historic summits with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un that stabilized the Korean Peninsula," the official said in response to a media question about whether Trump was willing to engage with Kim without raising the denuclearization issue.

"U.S. policy on North Korea has not changed. President Trump remains open to talking with Kim Jong-un without any preconditions," the official added.

Since taking office in January, Trump has repeatedly hinted at reviving dialogue with Kim, but this marks the first time the White House has explicitly used the phrase "without any preconditions."

The wording suggests that denuclearization, long a sticking point in U.S.-North Korea diplomacy, may not be at the forefront of Trump's agenda as he signals continued willingness to meet the North Korean leader.

"As Pyongyang firmly rejects abandoning its nuclear program and refuses any talks conditioned on denuclearization, the White House statement appears to reflect a more practical approach in bringing North Korea to the negotiating table and starting face-to-face dialogue, whatever the terms," said Yang Moo-jin, professor emeritus at the University of North Korean Studies.

He noted, however, that the phrase "without any preconditions" is not unprecedented. Previous U.S. administrations, including that of Joe Biden, have publicly expressed willingness to pursue dialogue without conditions — efforts that never materialized due to North Korea's lack of response.

Kim may respond differently to Trump's gestures.

During North Korea's key parliamentary meeting in September, Kim recalled positive memories of his meetings with Trump and said, "If the U.S. drops its hollow obsession with denuclearization, there is no reason for us not to sit down with the U.S."

"For Kim, there is little to lose by holding a bilateral meeting with Trump at this point. Rather, it could enhance his diplomatic standing to engage directly with a global superpower," Yang said.

Given the unconventional diplomatic styles of both Trump and Kim, analysts say the possibility of a surprise encounter on the sidelines of the APEC meeting cannot be ruled out.

North Korea is not an APEC member and is not among the economies formally invited by Seoul.

That means any Trump-Kim meeting is likely to take place at Panmunjeom, the Joint Security Area at the inter-Korean border, as precedent suggests. Trump previously met Kim at the truce village in June 2019, becoming the first sitting U.S. president to step into North Korean territory.

South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Wednesday it will maintain close communication with the U.S. on North Korea policy, including the prospect of Washington-Pyongyang dialogue.

"South Korea and the U.S. have consistently reaffirmed their openness to dialogue with North Korea in pursuit of peace on the Korean Peninsula and the resolution of the nuclear issue," a ministry official said.