Trump-Kim meeting speculation flares ahead of US president’s visit to South Korea

SEOUL, South Korea — The previous visit of U.S. President Donald Trump to South Korea in 2019 included an unexpected trip to the border with North Korea for an unplanned meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to revive failing nuclear negotiations.

As Trump embarks on his first trip to Asia since his re-election, there is speculation that he may aim to meet Kim again during his visit to South Korea. This would be their first summit since their last encounter at the Korean border village of Panmunjom in June 2019, and their fourth meeting in total.

While some experts believe that another spontaneous meeting is unlikely at this time, they suggest that Trump and Kim could engage in talks again in the near future. However, others argue that a swift resumption of diplomacy is improbable due to significant changes since 2019, including the growth of North Korea’s nuclear program and its international influence.