Acting U.S. Ambassador to Korea Joseph Yun (left) on March 11 responds to questions at the Sejong Open Forum held at the Sejong Institute in Seoul's Jongno-gu District.

By Gil Kyuyoung

Interim acting U.S. Ambassador to Korea Joseph Y. Yun says U.S. President Donald Trump will attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit this year in Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province.

At the Sejong Open Forum held at the Sejong Institute in Seoul's Jongno-gu District, the diplomat on March 11 said that he is "certain" of President Trump's attendance.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is also expected to attend given that his country will host next year's summit.

On Korea going nuclear, the interim acting ambassador said the Trump administration has reviewed nothing on it, but that Korea should remain under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

He also called nuclear re-deployment and NATO-style nuclear sharing "the most difficult options," saying, "I think for a lot of people in Washington, it is also another step and that is to do what is allowed in the NPT in terms of nuclear fuel cycle."

If Korea wants to be allowed to dispose of nuclear weapons at Japan's level, he added, Seoul's nuclear agreement with Washington needs revision.

On growing political uncertainty in Korea, he said the U.S. is unconcerned over who wins the next Korean presidential election because the Korean public is positive toward the bilateral alliance.

gilkyuyoung@korea.kr