US President Donald Trump is preparing for a possible trip to South Korea in October to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) trade ministers’ meeting, where he may also meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping, CNN reported citing senior administration officials.

The summit, scheduled in Gyeongju between late October and early November, is seen as a key diplomatic opportunity for Trump to engage Xi amid ongoing tensions over trade tariffs and regional security. Officials confirmed that discussions are underway for a potential bilateral meeting on the sidelines, though no firm plans have been finalized.

Trump has also left open the possibility of a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, depending on whether Kim attends the APEC gathering. “I will do that, and we’ll have talks. He’d like to meet with me,” Trump said while meeting South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, who extended the APEC invitation last week.

Beyond geopolitics, the White House views the visit as an opportunity to secure economic investments in the US, as Trump has prioritized during recent trips to the Middle East. Discussions are also expected to cover trade, defense, and civil nuclear cooperation with Seoul.

The visit comes at a delicate moment. Just days ago, Xi hosted Kim, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Beijing during a major military parade, a show of strength that Trump criticized on social media. Despite his remarks, Trump reiterated that his relationships with Xi, Putin, Modi, and Kim remain “very good.”

Meanwhile, the US and China continue high-stakes negotiations over tariffs. Trump previously imposed a 145% tariff on Chinese imports, with Beijing responding with 125% levies on US goods. While those rates were due to snap back recently, Trump signed an executive order delaying the higher tariffs until November to keep talks alive.