Trump dodges question on visit to DMZ

WASHINGTON -- US President Donald Trump would not confirm Monday whether he plans to visit the demilitarized zone in Korea next month.

Trump was asked by reporters during a press conference with Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell about his reported plan to go to the buffer zone dividing the Koreas during his visit to Seoul.

"Well, I'll be going, as you know, to South Korea, to China, to Japan, to Vietnam for the summit," he said. "And I look forward to all of them. We haven't set the details, as of this moment."

Asked if he was afraid of provoking North Korea by going to the DMZ, he said, "We'll take a look at that. I didn't hear in terms of provoking."

Trump is set to visit South Korea for bilateral talks with President Moon Jae-in on Nov. 7. It will be part of his first visit to the region since taking office.

A Japanese newspaper reported the trip to the DMZ may be canceled amid concern for the president's safety.

Trump and the North Korean leadership have recently engaged in a war of words over Pyongyang's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs. (Yonhap)