(Washington) – US President Donald Trump said he is willing to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un if he reaches out during his visit to Asia.
“If you want to convey that message, I’m open to it,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Friday (October 24).
In 2019, Trump extended an invitation via social media, expressing his hope for a handshake meeting with Kim Jong Un in the Korean Demilitarized Zone, ultimately leading to a Trump-Kim summit.
Trump hinted that he would not rule out formally recognizing North Korea as a nuclear-armed state, a position opposed by allies such as South Korea. He said: “When you say they should be recognized as a nuclear-armed state, yes, they have a lot of nuclear weapons.”
The ASEAN summit is scheduled to be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from October 26 to 28, followed by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, from October 31 to November 1. Trump will attend both summits.
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South Korea's Unification Ministry expressed hope for a meeting between the leaders of the United States and North Korea. However, a senior US official reiterated on Friday that Trump's Asia trip does not include a meeting with Kim Jong-un.
Trump Expected to Meet Lula in Kuala Lumpur
Trump is also expected to meet with Brazilian President Lula da Silva during his trip. Trump also expressed his willingness to reduce the 50% US tariffs on Brazil.
Bloomberg News reported that Brazil has been trying to arrange a meeting with Trump during the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur this weekend to persuade him to remove high tariffs on Brazilian goods and sanctions against Supreme Court judges, government officials, and their families.
Lula told reporters on Saturday (25th) before Trump arrived in Kuala Lumpur: "I really hope this happens. I'm here to find a solution."
Trump had previously threatened to impose a 50% tariff on Brazilian goods to force the Supreme Court to drop the case against former President Jair Bolsonaro.
