Washington-Pyongyang talks at APEC summit cannot be ruled out: official

▲ North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (L) and U.S. President Donald Trump hold hands across the Demarcation Line in the inter-Korean truce village of Panmunjom during their meeting on June 30, 2019, in this file photo released by the Korean Central News Agency on July 1. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

Trump-Kim talks-prospects

Washington-Pyongyang talks at APEC summit cannot be ruled out: official

New York, Sept. 26 (Yonhap) -- Talks between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea cannot be ruled out, a Seoul official said Friday.

"As of now, it is difficult to say conclusively, but we cannot rule out the possibility (of a Trump-Kim meeting)," the official said.

During his address to the U.N. General Assembly earlier this week, Trump highlighted his peace efforts amid speculation that he could attempt to reengage with the North Korean leader when he visits South Korea to attend the APEC summit set to take place in the southeastern city of Gyeongju, South Korea, on Oct. 31-Nov. 1.

He has voiced his hope to meet Kim this year, raising expectations that he could seek to resume his personal diplomacy with Kim, which led to three meetings between them -- the first in Singapore in June 2018, the second in Hanoi in February 2019 and the last at the inter-Korean border village of Panmunjom in June 2019.

Kim also earlier indicated his willingness to engage in dialogue with the U.S. if it drops its demand for the North's denuclearization while noting that he personally has a "good memory" of Trump.

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