Cheong Wa Dae: "Low Likelihood of North Korea-U.S. Contact Around APEC"

"We are not even considering recognizing North Korea as a nuclear-armed state"
"No impact from the U.S. midterm elections has become apparent... Efforts to expedite talks on nuclear-powered submarines and the nuclear cooperation agreement"
"The Cheonghae Unit will retain at least the right to self-defense in an emergency... There will be no dangerous situation"

Cheong Wa Dae on Nov. 12 assessed the possibility of contact between the leaders of North Korea and the United States around the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen, China, which President Lee Jae-myung will attend, as low. It maintained a cautious stance despite speculation that U.S. President Donald Trump could seek to change the situation through dialogue with North Korea after the U.S. midterm elections. In particular, it made clear that it was not considering recognizing North Korea as a nuclear-armed state, even if North Korea-U.S. talks were held.

President Lee Jaemyung delivers congratulatory remarks at the groundbreaking ceremony for mega-projects in the Chungcheong region, held at the construction site of Samsung Electronics' Onyang Campus in Asan, South Chungcheong Province, on Nov. 12, 2026. Yonhap News Agency

A senior Cheong Wa Dae official told reporters at Chunchugwan on Nov. 12 that, regarding the possibility of contact between North Korea and the United States, "Expectations and interest are much greater than the actual likelihood," adding, "I tend to think the actual likelihood is not that high."

The official also said the likelihood was low that North Korea would appear on the multilateral diplomatic stage or that contact would take place between North Korea and the United States during the APEC meeting. Regarding the possibility of contact before or after the meeting, the official said, "There may be even the slightest bit more possibility outside that period than during it," while explaining that the overall likelihood was low.

Regarding concerns that North Korea's status as a nuclear-armed state could effectively be recognized during negotiations between North Korea and the United States, the official dismissed them, saying, "Recognizing North Korea's status as a nuclear-armed state is not something we are considering." The official added that South Korea was communicating closely with the United States and preparing for related developments, but emphasized that it was wary of premature forecasts when even whether negotiations would take place remained uncertain.

The official also cautioned against excessive concern about the impact of the U.S. midterm election results on South Korea-U.S. security cooperation. "It seems public attention is somewhat excessively focused on the impact of the midterm elections," the official said. "Discussions on pending issues are fundamentally conducted between governments, and progress between governments is a more important factor."

However, the official said discussions on nuclear-powered submarines and the South Korea-U.S. nuclear cooperation agreement "have not yet entered a normal discussion process." The official said efforts were being made to begin consultations as soon as possible. Regarding investment in the United States, the position is to focus on implementation, as an agreement has already been reached on the broad framework.

The official offered a positive outlook on the transfer of wartime operational control. Citing recent consultations between the South Korean and U.S. defense ministers and discussions between policy chiefs at the defense ministries, the official said, "The discussions are making at least gradual progress." The official added that no particular impact from the U.S. midterm elections had yet become apparent.

Regarding the situation in the Middle East, the official clarified the principles governing the expansion of the Cheonghae Unit's mission scope. The official said the core objectives were to protect South Korean citizens and vessels, cooperate internationally to safeguard freedom of navigation, and defend energy security, emphasizing, "We will not participate in war or combat." South Korea also has no intention of being incorporated into another country's chain of command. The official said South Korea was maintaining diplomatic communication with the United States, Iran and other countries concerned, while also consulting with the National Assembly.

Regarding bilateral summits being pursued in conjunction with this trip, the official said, "We are adjusting the schedule to hold only as many bilateral meetings as necessary." The official said the identity of Russia's representative attending APEC had not yet been confirmed, adding that the government was watching the possibility of a U.S.-China-Russia summit and whether the Korean Peninsula issue might be discussed in that context.

The official reaffirmed the intention to maintain and develop the basic framework for South Korea-China-Japan cooperation despite the recent deterioration in relations between China and Japan. Saying there were no major immediate issues between South Korea and Japan, the official said preparations would continue to sustain shuttle diplomacy.

Regarding the diplomatic tensions with Ukraine, the official said various forms of communication were under way, including the recent foreign ministers' meeting in Paris, and expressed hope for progress. The return of the ambassador to Ukraine, who was recalled, will be considered depending on progress in consultations.

Meanwhile, the official said North Korea continued work on its fence line in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), but no further moves related to resuming broadcasts toward South Korea had been detected. Regarding the relocation of U.S. military facilities at the Gwangju military airport, the official explained that the legal framework between South Korea and the United States had effectively been established, and that there was insufficient basis for predicting that the project would be delayed because of the U.S. facilities.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.