Minister Cho Hyun of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on the 13th that U.S. President Donald Trump will visit Korea on the occasion of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, but is highly likely to be unable to attend the main events of the summit.
The Minister, at the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee audit that day, answered "Yes" to a question asking whether President Trump is coming to Korea, and said, "I think it is highly likely that he will not be able to attend the summit."
In response to a question from People Power Party lawmaker Kim Ki-hyun asking, "Will there be a South Korea–U.S. summit?" the Minister said yes, adding that the location "will probably be Gyeongju." Asked whether this means the summit is likely to be held in a brief format, the Minister said, "That's not the case."
The Minister also said that the locations for the South Korea–China summit and the U.S.–China summit are "highly likely to be Gyeongju."
Meanwhile, the APEC summit week in Gyeongju runs from the 27th to Nov. 1, with the main events of the summit scheduled for two days starting on the 31st. South Korea and the United States are said to be discussing a plan for President Trump to visit Korea for one night and two days starting on the 29th.
President Trump is expected to attend some events during the APEC summit week, which begins on the 27th, including the chief executive officer (CEO) summit, but is highly likely to skip the plenary sessions of the summit, which will be held for two days starting on the 31st.