Appears to dial back prospects of a meeting
'Not sure anyone wants the talks,' Trump says
![US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters as he leaves the White House in Washington, D.C., on Monday, heading to Kansas. [Reuters]](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2026/10/20/news-p.v1.20261020.ed3072c70d5d4eaf92d4abef1bcced63_P1.jpg)
Every word Trump speaks sends ripples through the global economy and financial markets. The Herald Business international desk — on the move from 5 a.m. — delivers a daily one-minute briefing covering US market closes and the Trump news most likely to move global assets. Subscribe to the daily newsletter on The Herald Business website.
US President Donald Trump said Monday (local time) that he does not know whether he will meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit scheduled for next month in Shenzhen, China.
Speaking to reporters at the White House before departing for Kansas, Trump was asked whether he could meet the North Korean leader in China next month. "I don't know," he said.
He then stressed that his personal ties with Kim remain strong. "I get along with Kim Jong-un very well," Trump said, adding, "I'm not sure anyone wants the talks, but my relationship with Kim Jong-un is very good."
The remarks represent a notable shift from Trump's previous posture of sending conciliatory signals to Kim and calling for unconditional North Korea-US talks. They also suggest Trump may be lowering expectations for a meeting after Pyongyang repeatedly failed to respond to his overtures.
Trump had previously treated North Korea as a de facto nuclear power, citing specific figures for the country's nuclear weapon stockpile, and had repeatedly pledged that he would meet Kim "before the end of the year."
As recently as Oct. 12, Trump told reporters that a meeting with Kim on the sidelines of the APEC summit was possible, saying "it could happen" and that such a meeting would be "exciting."
yckim6452@heraldcorp.com
