In a swirl of diplomatic anticipation and controversy, President Donald Trump is preparing for a high-stakes return to the Asia-Pacific stage, with plans to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) trade ministers meeting in South Korea this coming October. The summit, scheduled for late October to early November in the historic city of Gyeongju, is shaping up to be a pivotal moment for Trump’s foreign policy legacy, as he eyes opportunities to engage with both Chinese President Xi Jinping and, potentially, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
According to CNN, Trump’s advisers have been quietly finalizing details for the trip, viewing the summit as a “key opportunity” for the president to meet face-to-face with Xi. While no firm plans are in place for a bilateral meeting, serious discussions are underway. In a phone call last month, Xi invited Trump and his wife to visit China—a gesture Trump reciprocated, although no dates have been set for either visit. The White House has indicated the president’s itinerary could expand, but for now, the focus remains on economic collaboration, trade, defense, and civil nuclear cooperation during the South Korea visit.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, who recently met with Trump, extended the invitation to the APEC summit and floated the idea that the gathering could provide a venue for Trump to meet with Kim Jong Un. “A visit to South Korea is being discussed, which would focus on economic collaboration,” a White House official told CNN. The official emphasized that, beyond economic investments, the administration is keen to address trade and security issues—echoing the priorities that have defined Trump’s recent trips to the Middle East and other global hotspots.
Trump himself, while addressing reporters alongside President Lee, didn’t shy away from the prospect of another meeting with Kim Jong Un. “I will do that, and we’ll have talks. He’d like to meet with me,” Trump claimed. “We look forward to meeting with him, and we’ll make relations better.” Yet, whether Kim will attend the summit remains uncertain, and administration officials are placing greater emphasis on the potential Xi meeting.
The timing of this diplomatic push is particularly sensitive. Just this week, Xi hosted Kim, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Beijing—a gathering that coincided with a grand military parade. Trump, never one to hold back on social media, was quick to criticize the event and its implications. “May President Xi and the wonderful people of China have a great and lasting day of celebration. Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America,” Trump posted online as the parade unfolded. Later, he shared a photo of the trio, quipping, “Looks like we’ve lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest, China. May they have a long and prosperous future together!”
Despite the bravado, Trump acknowledged the significance of the parade, describing it as a “beautiful ceremony” and “very impressive.” He suggested that the event was staged, at least in part, for his benefit. “I understood the reason they were doing it, and they were hoping I was watching—and I was watching,” Trump said during an Oval Office meeting with the president of Poland. He maintained, however, that his relationships with Xi, Kim, and Putin remain “very good,” adding, “We’re going to find out how good it is over the next week or two.”
Trade tensions between Washington and Beijing form a tense backdrop to the upcoming summit. In April, Trump imposed a hefty 145% tariff on Chinese imports, prompting China to retaliate with a 125% levy on American goods. These tariffs were set to snap back to their peak in August, but Trump signed an executive order pausing the higher rates until November, as negotiations continue. Top economic advisers from both countries have met twice in Europe in recent months, seeking a way forward. The summit in Gyeongju could prove decisive for both sides.
Yet, even as Trump seeks to advance his economic and diplomatic agenda in Asia, a shadow lingers over US-North Korea relations. On September 6, 2025, The New York Times published a report detailing a classified 2019 Navy SEAL Team 6 mission in North Korea that ended in tragedy. Citing “two dozen people, including civilian government officials, members of the first Trump administration and current and former military personnel with knowledge of the mission,” the report alleges that Trump approved a covert operation to plant a device capable of intercepting communications from North Korea’s reclusive leader, Kim Jong Un, during a period of high-level nuclear talks.
According to the report, the mission went awry when SEAL Team 6 commandos, fearing detection by a North Korean boat, opened fire and killed all aboard. Subsequent investigation revealed that the victims were unarmed civilians diving for shellfish. The SEALs reportedly returned to their nuclear-powered submarine and escaped undetected. Notably, the Trump administration did not inform Congress of the botched mission, a detail that has raised eyebrows in Washington and could complicate any renewed engagement with Pyongyang.
When pressed about the report during a session with reporters in the Oval Office, Trump was unequivocal: “I don’t know anything about it. I’m hearing it now for the first time.” Later, when asked again, he reiterated, “I don’t know anything about it, no. I could look but I know nothing about it.” The Pentagon and U.S. Special Operations Command have both declined to comment on the matter, and ABC News has not independently confirmed the details of the Times report.
The fallout from the failed mission could cast a long shadow over any potential meeting between Trump and Kim Jong Un. Analysts note that news of unarmed North Koreans being killed by US forces—regardless of the circumstances—could make Pyongyang even more wary of engaging in dialogue, especially if the incident is leveraged for domestic propaganda purposes. Still, Trump remains outwardly undeterred, projecting confidence in his ability to broker deals and mend fences with even the most unpredictable of leaders.
As the APEC summit approaches, all eyes will be on Gyeongju. Will Trump succeed in resetting relations with Xi and Kim? Can he parlay his trademark showmanship into concrete economic gains for the US? Or will the ghosts of past covert operations and ongoing trade wars derail his ambitions? One thing is certain: the coming weeks promise to be anything but dull on the Asia-Pacific diplomatic front.
With so much at stake and so many moving parts, the world will be watching closely as President Trump embarks on a journey that could reshape the contours of US engagement in Asia for years to come.
