The United Nations Command(UNC) and South Korean government will suspend unification ministry-run trips to Panmunjom around the time of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation(APEC) summit in Gyeongju between October 31 and November 1.

Ministry spokesperson Koo Byoung-sam said during a press briefing on Monday that the ministry will not arrange visits to Panmunjom from late October to early November.

Koo referred questions about its reasoning to the UNC, which the spokesperson said has full authority over the trips.

The ministry has been operating tours for domestic visitors involved in its policy implementation twice a day in consultation with the UNC.

The suspension comes in the wake of speculation that U.S. President Donald Trump could meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during his visit to Gyeongju on the occasion of the APEC summit.

Trump and Kim's most recent meeting took place in June 2019 at Panmunjom.