No meeting is currently scheduled
U.S. and South Korean officials see little chance that President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will meet before the end of 2026, despite earlier expectations that a summit could take place during Trump’s planned diplomatic trip through Asia in November. Five people familiar with official discussions told Reuters that Washington has received no response from Pyongyang about arranging a meeting.
The narrowing calendar matters because the most obvious venue is the November 18–19 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen, China. South Korea’s intelligence service told lawmakers last month that it saw a 50 percent chance of a meeting on the sidelines. Since then, officials have reported no visible North Korean preparations, and Trump has publicly played down expectations.
Pyongyang’s conditions remain difficult
North Korean state media has suggested that any renewed summit would require significant conditions, potentially including sanctions relief. Kim’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, has described the personal relationship between the leaders positively, but Pyongyang has shown little interest in diplomacy centered on limiting or dismantling its nuclear program.
The White House says U.S. policy has not changed and that Trump remains open to talks without preconditions. South Korea’s foreign ministry likewise says Seoul will continue coordinating with Washington to encourage dialogue. Openness, however, is not the same as an agreed agenda, and neither side has announced preparatory meetings that would normally precede a leader-level encounter.
A history of high-profile diplomacy
Trump met Kim three times during his first term, in Singapore, Hanoi and the Korean Demilitarized Zone. Those encounters reduced tensions temporarily and created direct contact, but negotiations did not produce a lasting agreement on North Korea’s nuclear arsenal, sanctions or a formal end to the Korean War.
That history raises the standard for another summit. A meeting can create political momentum, but without negotiated steps and verification it may repeat the pattern of broad declarations followed by stalemate. U.S., South Korean and Japanese officials also need to coordinate their positions on missile testing, regional security and the sequence of any concessions.
Regional allies have direct stakes in both diplomacy and deterrence. South Korea remains within range of North Korean artillery and missiles, while Japan monitors launches that can cross or approach its territory. They want negotiations that reduce immediate risk without weakening defense commitments. China, North Korea’s largest trading partner, can also influence the environment through border commerce and enforcement of international sanctions.
Diplomacy can continue below the summit level
A leader meeting is only one channel. Working-level contacts can clarify whether North Korea seeks sanctions relief, economic assistance, security guarantees or recognition of its nuclear status. They can also identify limited agreements—such as military communication, testing restraints or humanitarian cooperation—that may be more achievable than a comprehensive settlement.
The latest assessment does not rule out a surprise encounter, especially given Trump’s preference for personal diplomacy. It does indicate that time is short and the necessary groundwork is absent. Unless Pyongyang responds soon, the Asia trip is more likely to feature discussions about North Korea with regional allies than a renewed Trump–Kim summit. Any later opening would still require negotiators to define objectives before the leaders meet. Public expectations should follow confirmed preparations rather than speculation around summit travel or informal contacts.
Source: Reuters reporting based on U.S. and South Korean officials. Reporting reviewed October 23, 2026.