SEOUL – In a development that could reignite one of the most extraordinary diplomatic sagas of the last decade, the South Korean government has confirmed that U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un are "ready for a reunion" later this month, potentially on the sidelines of the APEC conference. The news comes after three previous summits produced memorable photo-ops but yielded virtually zero concrete progress on the core issue of denuclearization.
According to a report by El Debate, the signals from both Washington and Pyongyang suggest a mutual, if conditional, interest in a fourth meeting.
From North Korea, the messaging has been described as surprisingly "positive." Chairman Kim Jong-un was quoted as saying he still holds "many beautiful memories of his time with President Trump," a nostalgic nod to their past engagements. However, this warmth comes with a firm and unambiguous red line: Pyongyang will only agree to talks if the contentious topic of its "nuclear weapons" program is kept off the agenda entirely. This precondition presents a significant hurdle, as denuclearization has historically been the central demand from the United States and the international community.
On the American side, President Trump appears to be reprising his role as an unconventional dealmaker. He has reportedly stated his willingness to "meet with Kim Jong-un again without any preconditions." This open-door approach is characteristic of his personal style of diplomacy. Yet, it is constrained by a significant logistical challenge: the meeting must fit into his "supersonic 24-hour schedule" during an upcoming tour of Asia, leaving a very narrow window for any potential sit-down.
The likely stage for this potential reunion is the highly symbolic Panmunjom Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), the heavily fortified border between North and South Korea. This location is steeped in history, most notably as the site of Trump and Kim's historic, impromptu meeting in 2019, where Trump became the first sitting U.S. president to step onto North Korean soil.
Despite the buzz, geopolitical analysts remain skeptical about the potential for any substantive breakthrough. The consensus is that the chance of tangible progress is "almost zero." Instead, the meeting is viewed as a powerful symbolic tool for both leaders.
For President Trump, it marks a potential return to his signature era of "personal diplomacy," allowing him to command the global stage with a high-stakes, headline-grabbing event.
For Kim Jong-un, it offers a valuable opportunity to project an image of statesmanship and reconciliation to the international community, potentially easing the diplomatic and economic pressure on his isolated regime.
As the APEC conference approaches, the world watches to see if this fourth chapter in the Trump-Kim relationship will be written—a relationship defined by high spectacle, but historically light on substance.
