The United States and North Korea are once again in the spotlight ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen, following recent statements from Donald Trump, the President of the United States. Trump has stated that he "might" meet with Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, during his Asian trip, but experts believe that this possibility is not very realistic.
Background of Negotiations and Current Status
In 2019, Kim returned home after a 60-hour trip to Hanoi without any agreement, and negotiations between the two sides reached a deadlock. Now, Trump is trying to improve relations with Pyongyang by offering new proposals, but these efforts have been met with silence from North Korean officials.
Last week, Trump stated that "meeting with Kim would be exciting," but on Monday he said, "I don't know... I'm not sure if anyone has requested a meeting" and added that "his relationship with Kim Jong Un is very good." Analysts believe that Trump is seeking a foreign policy victory, while Kim may be less inclined to establish a new meeting.
Economic and Military Developments in North Korea
The North Korean government continues to send troops and weapons to Russia in the Ukraine war, and this action has garnered the support of President Vladimir Putin. This cooperation helps Pyongyang mitigate the United Nations sanctions on its nuclear program. According to the Bank of Korea, North Korea's economy has grown by over 3 percent for the third consecutive year in 2025, with economic cooperation with Russia recognized as a key factor in this growth.
In September, Kim Jong Un declared that his country's nuclear status is "absolute" and referred to those hoping for nuclear disarmament as "fools." Analysts believe that China is also gradually moving towards an implicit acceptance of North Korea's nuclear status. In Kim's meeting with Xi Jinping, the President of China, there was no mention of nuclear disarmament, which is seen as a sign of Beijing's implicit agreement.
