Lee to attend ASEAN, APEC summits in Philippines, China next week

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will attend summits of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) next week, his national security adviser said Thursday. The South Korean president will depart Monday first for Manila where he will attend the ASEAN summit until Tuesday, followed by a two-day trip to China's Shenzhen beginning Wednesday, where he will attend the APEC summit, National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac told a briefing. At the upcoming events, Lee plans to strengthen mutual trust and cooperation with other heads of state through bilateral and multilateral meetings while highlighting South Korea's contributions to resolving regional challenges, including energy supply chains, transnational crimes and food security, according to Wi. A presidential official separately said that North Korea is unlikely to attend next week's APEC summit to hold talks with the United States. "It would be difficult to say there is zero possibility of talks (between North Korea and the US), but I think the probability might not be high," the of