Newsletters
U.S. President Donald Trump said he will not meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during his visit to South Korea, citing scheduling conflicts. His remarks came as North Korea announced a new cruise missile test just hours before Trump arrived in the country.
Speaking in Seoul after meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, Trump said there were no plans to meet Kim Jong Un during his trip.
“We just couldn’t find a suitable time,” Trump said. “Tomorrow, Chinese President Xi Jinping is arriving, and that is the main focus of this visit.”
Trump reiterated his willingness to engage with Kim in the future, adding, “We will have other visits and work very hard with Kim Jong Un and everyone else to get things back on track, because that’s the sensible thing to do.”
The U.S. president, who is attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Gyeongju, emphasized that common sense and patience were key to resolving the longstanding tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
North Korea announced on Wednesday that it had successfully conducted a sea-to-land strategic cruise missile test in the Yellow Sea, as Trump prepared to leave Japan for South Korea.
According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the test involved missiles launched from a ship that flew for 130 minutes before striking their designated targets.
Workers’ Party Vice Chairman Pak Jong Chon, who oversaw the test, said strengthening the country’s nuclear combat capabilities was the military’s “greatest responsibility.”
He emphasized that testing various strategic strike systems and showcasing them to enemies was part of demonstrating credible deterrence.
The timing of the launch, hours before Trump’s visit, was widely seen as a message from Pyongyang to Washington.
Trump arrived in South Korea on Wednesday as part of his multi-nation Asia tour. He was welcomed with full state honors, including a 21-gun salute, and received the Grand Order of Mugunghwa, South Korea’s highest state decoration.
He also received a replica of the Cheonmachong golden crown, a symbol of the country’s royal heritage.
Meeting with President Lee Jae Myung in Gyeongju, Trump discussed trade, defense cooperation, and peace efforts on the Korean Peninsula.
Lee praised Trump’s previous diplomatic efforts and described him as “a messenger of peace,” expressing hope that his skills in achieving peace could extend to the Korean Peninsula.
Lee also requested U.S. support for South Korea’s plan to acquire nuclear-powered submarines and pledged to increase defense spending, noting that Seoul’s military budget is already 1.4 times the size of North Korea’s GDP.
The visit marked the final leg of Trump’s Asia trip, which also included stops in Japan and Malaysia. His meeting with Lee came amid ongoing efforts to finalize a trade deal between Washington and Seoul.
Earlier in the week, Trump had said that reaching a deal with South Korea would be “a good deal for both,” while emphasizing the importance of economic security as national security.
Trump is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Gyeongju, in what is anticipated to be one of the most closely watched meetings of his trip.
3 min read
