N. Korea unlikely to attend APEC or hold talks with U. S.: official

SEOUL, Nov. 12 (Yonhap) -- North Korea is unlikely to attend the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit set to be held in China next week, a South Korean presidential official said Thursday. "It would be difficult to say there is zero possibility of talks (between North Korea and the United States), but I think the probability might not be high," the official said when asked about the possibility of North Korea attending multilateral diplomatic events or holding talks with Washington. The North is, in particular, unlikely to attend next week's APEC summit, the official said on condition of anonymity, adding the chances of talks between the two sides during the summit are slim. The remarks come amid persistent speculation about a possible meeting between U. S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during the APEC summit, scheduled for next Wednesday and Thursday in Shenzhen, China, after Trump repeatedly offered to meet Kim for talks. This AP file photo shows U. S. President Donald Trump (L) and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un smiling before a summit meeting at the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi on February 27, 2019. (Yonhap) pbr@yna.co.kr(END)