Tuesday, October 13, 2026 -President Donald Trump has raised the possibility of meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as early as November 2026, potentially reopening high-level diplomacy between Washington and Pyongyang. Speaking to reporters at the White House on October 12, Trump said he might meet Kim during his upcoming Asia trip, adding that the meeting would be exciting because the two leaders get along.
Trump is expected to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen, China, on November 18–19, creating a possible opportunity for direct talks. However, no meeting has been officially confirmed.
The prospect of a summit comes as North Korea continues to showcase its growing military capabilities, including advanced ballistic missiles. On Sunday, Kim attended the opening of a new defence museum displaying weapons developed under his leadership, including the Hwasong-20 intercontinental ballistic missile.
The developments highlight the challenge facing Washington as it considers renewed engagement with Pyongyang while concerns over North Korea’s nuclear arsenal and missile programme remain unresolved. US officials have indicated that diplomatic engagement remains an option when it serves American national interests.
A potential Trump–Kim meeting could put nuclear disarmament, regional security and the future of US–North Korea relations back at the centre of international diplomacy. The two leaders met three times between 2018 and 2019, but their discussions did not produce a lasting agreement to curb Pyongyang’s nuclear programme.
Any new summit would therefore face pressure to deliver concrete progress rather than symbolic gestures. For now, attention is turning to November, with the international community watching for official confirmation and signs that both sides are prepared to pursue meaningful negotiations.
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