[Gyeongju APEC] Trump Says "Wants to Meet Kim Jong Un... North Korean Missile Launch Not Significant" (Update)

"Focus on Meeting with President Xi"
"Fentanyl Tariff May Be Lowered"
Cooperation Hinted at U.S.-China Summit

President Donald Trump of the United States stated that he did not "attach much significance" to North Korea's recent missile test conducted ahead of his visit to South Korea, while once again expressing his willingness to meet with Kim Jong Un, Chairman of North Korea's State Affairs Commission.

Donald Trump, President of the United States, gestures as he moves to Air Force One at Haneda Airport in Tokyo, Japan, on the 29th before his flight to South Korea. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

On the 29th, speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One en route from Japan to South Korea, President Trump was asked about North Korea's missile test and replied, "I don't know. He has been launching missiles for decades, and this is just another one." North Korea had test-fired a strategic cruise missile over the West Sea on the 28th, one day before President Trump's arrival in South Korea.

President Trump continued, "I have always maintained a good relationship with him (Kim Jong Un)," adding, "At some point, I will meet him. As you know, he is a very busy person."

When asked whether a meeting with Chairman Kim was included in his itinerary for this trip, he said, "I don't know. I think North Korea wants it, and I want it too. But for now, I want to focus on China. Tomorrow's meeting with China (President Xi Jinping) will be the main focus."

Nevertheless, he reiterated his willingness to engage in dialogue with Chairman Kim, stating, "We will be back soon, and in the not-too-distant future, we will meet with North Korea."

President Trump's remarks are interpreted as an acknowledgment that, despite his public expression of willingness to meet, North Korea has not shown any particular response, and that it would be realistically difficult to meet Chairman Kim in person during this Asian tour.

President Trump also commented ahead of the U.S.-China summit with President Xi Jinping, saying, "I believe China will cooperate in resolving the fentanyl issue," and hinted at the possibility of lowering the 'fentanyl tariff' currently imposed on Chinese fentanyl.

When asked whether he was willing to lower the fentanyl tariff or expected it to happen, he said, "I expect it will happen because I believe they (China) will cooperate," adding, "They will do what they can."

Previously, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that the United States was expected to lower the fentanyl tariff by 10 percentage points at the upcoming U.S.-China summit. Since the start of his second term, President Trump has imposed a 20% tariff on China, pointing out that the raw materials for synthetic drug fentanyl are being imported from China.

Regarding the meeting with President Xi, President Trump emphasized that it would be "a very important occasion" and that the fentanyl issue would be one of the key agenda items. He added, "We will discuss a variety of issues, including the export of U.S. soybeans and matters concerning farmers, but fentanyl will be one of the main topics of discussion."