Presidents Lee, Trump, Xi Expected to Hold Bilateral Summits Ahead of APEC South Korea

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung is expected to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae during the upcoming ASEAN summit, although official schedules for these encounters remain tentative. The South Korean government is preparing for the possibility of a U.S.-North Korea summit, as President Trump has expressed willingness to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during the ASEAN event and has acknowledged North Korea as a de facto nuclear power. South Korea is also promoting its "END Initiative," focused on exchange, normalization of relations, and denuclearization to gain ASEAN support. There is growing anticipation around the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in South Korea, where Trump will visit Gyeongju, with calls from South Korean officials urging Trump and Kim not to miss the chance for dialogue. Signs such as North Korean cleanup activities near the Panmunjom truce village suggest possible preparations for renewed talks. Additionally, Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping are scheduled to meet in South Korea next month, marking their first meeting in over six years and highlighting the country's pivotal role in regional geopolitics.