Trump preparing South Korea trip, possible meeting with China"s leader

US President Donald Trump and his top advisers are quietly preparing to travel to South Korea in October for the gathering of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation trade ministers, three Trump administration officials told CNN, Report informs.

The summit, set to be held in the city of Gyeongju between late October and early November, is viewed as a key opportunity for Trump to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The officials said there have been serious discussions about a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of APEC, but no firm plans are in place. In a phone call last month, Xi invited Trump and his wife to visit China, an invitation the US president reciprocated, though no dates have been set.

Details are still being finalized and it"s unclear whether the president may add other stops on the trip. The officials said the administration is also viewing it as an opportunity for the president to clinch more economic investments in the US - something that has been a key focus of his recent trips abroad, including during his trip to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

"A visit to South Korea is being discussed, which would focus on economic collaboration," a White House official told CNN. Other goals include a focus on discussions around trade, defense and civil nuclear cooperation, the official said.

Trump"s presence in the region could also put him in a position to sit down once again with North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un, though whether Kim attends is still a question. Officials say more attention is being placed on organizing a potential meeting with Xi.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung invited Trump to attend the APEC summit while meeting with him last week and suggested the setting could provide Trump with an opportunity to meet with Kim, sources familiar with the talks said.

The US president"s expected trip to South Korea comes at a tenuous time in his relationship with both Xi and Kim.