Trump Lacks Plans To Meet Kim Jong Un During Asia Tour Amid Speculation

U.S. President Donald Trump will not meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during his upcoming five-day diplomatic tour of Asia, focusing instead on strengthening ties with Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea. Despite speculation and private discussions within the U.S. administration about a possible meeting, officials confirmed that no such encounter is scheduled during this trip. South Korea's Minister of Unification, Chung Dong-young, expressed that there remains a "considerable" possibility for future engagement between Trump and Kim, encouraged by Kim's openness to talks if the U.S. abandons demands for denuclearization. Trump has previously met Kim three times during his first presidency, including a historic 2019 summit, but efforts stalled over sanctions and verification issues. The South Korean government supports renewed dialogue to ease tensions, with Trump expressing willingness to meet Kim again in the future though not during this visit. Preparations and restrictions around the Korean border have fueled speculation, but the current trip will focus on regional security and bilateral cooperation without involving North Korea.