Trump will not meet North Korea's Kim during Asia tour

US President Donald Trump will not hold meetings with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during his forthcoming five-day Asian diplomatic tour, senior American officials confirmed Friday. While acknowledging Trump's expressed willingness for future engagement with Kim, administration representatives emphasized that such discussions do not form part of the current travel schedule, which concentrates on strengthening alliances with Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea.

Asian Itinerary Details

The presidential journey commences with a Sunday arrival in Malaysia, where Trump will oversee what officials described as "a significant peace agreement that will save more lives, reduce more conflict and advance security across a free and open Indo Pacific." The visit includes bilateral discussions with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and participation in the US-ASEAN leaders' working dinner before Trump proceeds to Tokyo for meetings with recently inaugurated Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

South Korean Engagement

The tour continues Wednesday to the South Korean port city of Busan, where Trump will confer with President Lee Jae Myung and deliver remarks at the APEC CEO luncheon. Despite earlier speculation about a potential encounter with Kim in the demilitarized zone separating the Koreas, officials confirmed the South Korean visit will focus exclusively on bilateral cooperation and regional security matters without involving North Korean representatives.

Historical Context

The announcement concludes speculation about reviving the unusual diplomatic relationship between Trump and Kim, who previously met in 2019 during Trump's initial presidential term. That historic encounter produced a much-publicized but ultimately unfulfilled denuclearization agreement with Pyongyang, representing the last major diplomatic engagement between the two nations before negotiations stalled over sanctions relief and verification protocols.