Trump signals uncertainty about meeting N. Korean leader in China next month

U.S. President Donald Trump expressed uncertainty Monday at the White House about meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in China next month. Trump is scheduled to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen on November 18-19. He said he maintains a very good relationship with Kim, while a State Department spokesperson said Trump remains willing to engage Pyongyang when it serves U.S. national interests.

Trump said he was unsure whether anyone had requested a meeting with Kim during his planned China trip.

Trump and Kim held three bilateral meetings: in Singapore in June 2018, in Hanoi in February 2019 and at Panmunjom in June 2019.

Tommy Pigott said Trump does not view talks with North Korea as a concession.

Trump said in August that he hoped to meet Kim later this year.

Published Oct 20, 2026 5:14 am KST

Updated Oct 20, 2026 7:46 am KST

U.S. President Donald Trump meets with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas, in Panmunjom, South Korea, Jun. 30, 2019. Reuters-Yonhap

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday expressed uncertainty about the possibility of meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in China next month, saying he was not sure whether anyone had requested such a meeting.

Trump made the remarks when asked by a reporter whether he expected to secure a meeting with Kim during his planned attendance at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in China, scheduled for November 18-19 in Shenzhen.

"Oh, I don't know. I don't know," Trump said at the White House. "I'm not sure that anybody's asking for a meeting."

The president nevertheless emphasized his personal ties with the North Korean leader. "I get along with him very well," Trump said. "But my relationship with Kim Jong-un is very good."

In August, Trump said that he hoped to meet Kim later this year, adding to speculation that he might seek to rekindle his personal diplomacy with Kim that led to three bilateral in-person meetings: the first in Singapore in June 2018, the second in Hanoi in February 2019 and the third at the inter-Korean border village of Panmunjom.

Last Monday, Trump said that he may meet Kim during his upcoming trip to Asia, adding, "That'll be exciting, won't it? But I get along with him."

Tommy Pigott, spokesperson for the State Department, said earlier that Trump does not view talks with North Korea as a "concession" and is willing to engage Pyongyang if doing so serves U.S. national interests.

美国总统特朗普周一在白宫表示，他对下个月在中国与朝鲜领导人金正恩会晤一事尚存疑虑。特朗普计划于11月18日至19日出席在深圳举行的亚太经合组织峰会。他表示，他与金正恩保持着非常好的关系，而美国国务院发言人则表示，当符合美国国家利益时，特朗普仍然愿意与平壤接触。

特朗普表示，他不确定是否有人要求在他计划的访华期间与金正恩会面。

特朗普和金正恩举行了三次双边会晤：2018 年 6 月在新加坡，2019 年 2 月在河内，以及 2019 年 6 月在板门店。

汤米·皮戈特表示，特朗普并不认为与朝鲜的会谈是一种让步。

特朗普在8月份表示，他希望今年晚些时候与金正恩会面。

发布于2026年10月20日 上午5:14（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年10月20日 上午7:46（韩国标准时间）

2019年6月30日，美国总统唐纳德·特朗普在韩国板门店朝韩非军事区会见朝鲜领导人金正恩。（路透社-韩联社）

华盛顿——美国总统唐纳德·特朗普周一表示，他对下个月在中国与朝鲜领导人金正恩会面的可能性表示不确定，称他不确定是否有人提出过这样的会面请求。

特朗普是在被记者问及他是否期望在计划出席11月18日至19日在中国深圳举行的亚太经合组织峰会期间与金正恩会面时发表上述言论的。

“哦，我不知道。我真的不知道，”特朗普在白宫说。“我不确定是否有人要求会面。”

尽管如此，总统还是强调了他与朝鲜领导人的私人关系。“我和他相处得很好，”特朗普说。“但我与金正恩的关系非常好。”

8 月，特朗普表示希望今年晚些时候与金正恩会面，这加剧了人们的猜测，即他可能会寻求重燃与金正恩的私人外交，此前两人曾举行过三次双边面对面会晤：第一次是 2018 年 6 月在新加坡，第二次是 2019 年 2 月在河内，第三次是在朝韩边境的板门店。

上周一，特朗​​普表示，他可能会在即将到来的亚洲之行中与金正恩会面，并补充说：“那会很令人兴奋，不是吗？但我跟他相处得很好。”

美国国务院发言人汤米·皮戈特早些时候表示，特朗普并不认为与朝鲜的对话是一种“让步”，如果这样做符合美国的国家利益，他愿意与平壤接触。