Trump Starts China-Japan Summit Diplomacy... Concerns grow over 'Korea Passing'

[Anchor]
About a month before his inauguration, U.S. President-elect Trump is preparing for summit diplomacy with China and Japan, but has not mentioned South Korea.

Some analysts say that the possibility of bilateral talks with acting President Han Deok-soo is low, raising concerns about "Korean passing" due to the impeachment.

This is Washington correspondent Hong Sang-hee.

[Reporter]
In his first press conference since the 70-minute presidential election, Trump mentioned Chinese President Xi Jinping, saying let's solve all the world's problems together.

He even hinted at the possibility of a summit meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba before his inauguration.

[Donald Trump/U.S. President-elect (16th local time): I want to be able to meet the Japanese prime minister. You're probably right. (Can it be done before the inauguration?) It is possible if Japan wants it. That's what I'm going to do.]

Along with the idea of ending the war in Ukraine, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un mentioned it, but there was no word related to South Korea, an ally.

[Donald Trump/ U.S. President-elect (local time)] I think it was a bad thing and it brought in the North Korean military. Chairman Kim Jong-un is another person I get along with, and I'm the only one.]

After the press conference, Trump nominated George Glass, a former Portuguese ambassador to Japan.

Trump gave his trust to his longtime supporter, former Ambassador Glass, saying he would always put the United States first.

Earlier on the 5th, former federal senator David Perdue was nominated as ambassador to China, but the U.S. ambassador to Korea has not even been mentioned as a candidate.

Analysts say that the leadership vacuum caused by the impeachment has not properly established relations with key officials in the second administration as well as summit diplomacy with Trump.

In particular, Trump is emphasizing his friendship with Kim Jong-un, raising the possibility that South Korea will be alienated from contacts such as the North Korea-U.S. summit.

With Trump's inauguration just over a month away, the government is considering Acting President Han Deok-soo's visit to the U.S. as concerns over "Korean passing" in the U.S. grow.

[Reporter]
However, some predict that bilateral talks in Korea or the United States will not be held unless it is an opportunity for multilateral meetings under the Korean acting president system.

I'm Hong Sang-hee from Washington.