South Korea sees little prospect of US-North Korea contact around APEC

Seoul’s presidential office expressed on Thursday little hope of a US-North Korea meeting preceding the upcoming APEC summit in China, or of the North’s involvement in APEC-related events. President Donald Trump has pushed to resume dialogue with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, yet US and South Korean officials perceive dwindling possibilities of a summit this year.

A high-ranking South Korean official commented on a recent escalation of tensions along the inter-Korean border, stating that no further North Korean actions have been observed beyond potential loudspeaker broadcasts at the Demilitarized Zone. Last month, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, revealed that her nation was contemplating the resumption of propaganda broadcasts via loudspeakers near the inter-Korean border, escalating tensions with Seoul.

South Korea attributes a blast in September, which caused severe injury to several of its soldiers, to North Korean mines planted during its fortification activities in the DMZ. Pyongyang denies responsibility, labeling the incident a South Korean fabrication. Additionally, South Korea is keeping a watchful eye on whether Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the APEC summit in Shenzhen next week.

Seoul had some diplomatic issues to discuss with Moscow, the official noted without further detail. A potential trilateral summit involving the United States, China, and Russia during the gathering could present an opportunity for the countries to discuss North Korea, the official added.