US President Donald Trump arrived in South Korea on Wednesday for a two-day visit packed with crucial meetings with President Lee Jae Myung and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju.

This marks Trump’s first Asia trip of his second term, centered on stabilizing markets and securing new trade and investment deals following months of economic uncertainty and tariff threats.

After flying from Tokyo aboard Air Force One, Trump landed in Busan’s Gimhae International Airport before heading to Gyeongju for his summit with Lee — their second in two months. The two sides are expected to finalize a framework trade deal signed in July, under which South Korea would invest $350 billion in the US in exchange for tariff reductions. However, key details, including the investment structure and timelines, remain unresolved.

The visit’s spotlight will be Trump’s high-stakes meeting with Xi Jinping on Thursday — their first since 2019. The summit could determine the future of the US-China trade war, with tensions heightened over rare earth export controls, soy imports, and fentanyl trafficking. Trump has threatened to impose 100% tariffs on Chinese goods starting November 1 if no progress is made.

Meanwhile, speculation continues over a possible Trump-Kim Jong-un meeting, though Pyongyang has not responded to Washington’s outreach. Trump said he remains “open to engagement” with North Korea if it furthers peace and denuclearization.