S. Korea closely watching possible U.S.-China-Russia summit: vice FM

SEOUL, Nov. 12 (Yonhap) -- South Korea is closely monitoring the potential for a trilateral summit involving the leaders of the United States, China, and Russia during the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, according to a senior official. First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo stated this during a parliamentary foreign affairs and unification committee session in response to a question from Rep. Park Sung-joon of the ruling Democratic Party regarding the likelihood of such a meeting.

Park emphasized that discussions on matters concerning the Korean Peninsula could potentially arise during the summit. Reports suggest that there have been conversations about a first-ever trilateral meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Russian President Vladimir Putin, scheduled to take place on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Shenzhen, China, from November 18-19.

Rep. Park noted that North Korea's strategic value and leverage have increased since the Russia-Ukraine war and the strengthening of military and security ties between Pyongyang and Moscow. He suggested that a trilateral summit might generate momentum for resolving the Ukraine war. In response to the possibility of additional sanctions against North Korea over its cyber activities, Park stated that the government is currently holding interagency consultations on the matter.