As former U.S. President Donald Trump boarded Air Force One on October 25, 2025, bound for a whirlwind five-day tour of Asia, speculation and anticipation quickly mounted over the possibility of a historic diplomatic encounter. Trump, ever the showman, told reporters he was open to meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during the trip—a potential reunion that could reshape the region’s delicate balance.
“I would. If you want to put out the word, I’m open to it,” Trump declared to the press as he departed Washington, according to BBC and The Guardian. He added, “I had a great relationship with him,” referencing his previous face-to-face meetings with Kim during his first term. Those encounters, including a remarkable handshake at the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in 2019, marked the first time a sitting U.S. president set foot in North Korea. Yet, despite the pageantry, the two leaders failed to clinch a lasting denuclearization agreement—a fact that continues to cast a long shadow over any future talks.
Trump’s itinerary is nothing if not ambitious. After a refueling stop where he is expected to meet Qatar’s emir for discussions on the Gaza ceasefire, he’ll arrive in Malaysia for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit on October 26. There, he’ll be accompanied by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with plans to sign a trade deal with Malaysia and oversee a peace accord between Thailand and Cambodia. The trip then takes him to Tokyo, where he’ll meet Japan’s newly appointed prime minister, Sanae Takaichi—the first woman to hold the post—before heading to Busan, South Korea, for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit.
But it’s the Korean peninsula that could steal the headlines. South Korea’s Unification Minister Chung Dong-young, who manages North-South relations, told AFP there’s a “considerable” chance Trump and Kim might meet while the former president is in South Korea. CNN even reported that U.S. officials had discussed setting up such a meeting, although, as Anadolu Agency noted, a senior U.S. official insisted it wasn’t on Trump’s official schedule. That said, their last impromptu encounter in the DMZ was arranged after a simple social media invitation from Trump—so anything seems possible.
Kim Jong Un, for his part, hasn’t slammed the door. According to North Korean state media, Kim recently expressed that he “still has a good memory of President Trump,” but remains firm that any renewed dialogue requires the U.S. to abandon what he calls its “absurd” demand for North Korea to relinquish its nuclear arsenal. Trump appears to have shifted his stance somewhat, telling reporters, “I think they are sort of a nuclear power... They got a lot of nuclear weapons, I’ll say that.” It’s a notable acknowledgment, reflecting the reality that North Korea has conducted multiple intercontinental missile tests since the leaders last met.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, who visited the White House in August to discuss peace prospects, has signaled openness to a deal that would see North Korea freeze its nuclear weapons production—a pragmatic step, even if it falls short of full denuclearization. Lee told BBC he would support such an arrangement, a sentiment that underscores the region’s cautious optimism and the desire to avoid another cycle of provocation and tension.
Meanwhile, Trump’s Asia trip is not just about North Korea. The most high-stakes meeting on his schedule is with China’s President Xi Jinping, set for the final day of the tour. The two leaders are expected to tackle the bruising trade war that has rattled global markets since Trump imposed sweeping tariffs earlier this year. According to The Guardian, top economic officials from both countries held “very constructive” preliminary talks in Kuala Lumpur on October 25, with further discussions planned for the next day.
Trump has made his position clear: unless a deal is reached, 100% tariffs on Chinese goods will take effect on November 1, a threat he recently escalated to 155%. The dispute centers, in part, on China’s curbs on rare earth mineral exports—critical components for modern electronics—which Beijing currently dominates, controlling about 90% of global refined supply. The outcome of these talks could have far-reaching consequences for industries and consumers alike.
The potential agreement, according to officials, might include limited relief on tariffs, an extension of current rates, or Chinese commitments to purchase more U.S. goods such as soybeans and Boeing aircraft. However, as history shows, Beijing has reneged on similar promises before, notably during a 2020 deal with Trump. The stakes are high, and both sides are under pressure to deliver tangible results.
Beyond trade, Trump and Xi are also expected to discuss geopolitical flashpoints, including Taiwan and Russia. The Taiwan issue has become increasingly contentious, with Trump acknowledging before his departure that he expects it to come up in talks. The U.S. has expanded sanctions on Russia over the war in Ukraine, a move that puts further strain on relations with Beijing, Moscow’s key ally.
Another sensitive topic on Trump’s agenda is the fate of Jimmy Lai, the founder of the now-defunct pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, who is currently serving a prison sentence in Hong Kong under Beijing-imposed national security laws. “It’s on my list. I’m going to ask … We’ll see what happens,” Trump told reporters, signaling his intent to raise human rights issues alongside economic and security concerns.
Trump’s diplomatic style—part bravado, part unpredictability—has often left both allies and adversaries guessing. His willingness to meet with Kim Jong Un, despite years of stalemate and North Korea’s continued missile development, reflects a belief in personal relationships as a catalyst for breakthroughs. Yet, as U.S. officials have cautioned, there is currently “no plan” for such a meeting, and any progress will depend on both sides’ willingness to compromise.
For now, the world watches as Trump embarks on a trip packed with potential flashpoints and opportunities. Will history repeat itself with another headline-grabbing handshake, or will the region’s intractable issues remain unresolved? One thing’s certain: Asia’s diplomatic chessboard is as complex—and as consequential—as ever.
As Trump’s plane touches down in Malaysia and the first handshakes of the tour are exchanged, the next moves in this high-stakes game will unfold before a global audience, eager for signs of progress—or at least, for a moment of genuine dialogue in an era defined by uncertainty.
