A summit between North Korea and the United States is likely to be difficult within this year, a leading Japanese scholar has said, doubting that either side is ready for a meeting that leads to any "meaningful" negotiations. Junya Nishino, a professor of political science at Tokyo's Keio University, made the remarks in a meeting with Korean reporters in Tokyo on Oct. 22, as U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed interest in meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un this year. "I think a summit (between Trump and Kim) this year will be difficult," Nishino said, adding Trump's interest in resuming diplomacy with Kim stems more from personal rapport than from a U.S. policy aimed at negotiations. Speculation has arisen that Trump may want to meet Kim on the occasion of his visit to China next month for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. "What we want is a meeting that leads to negotiations," he said. "I do not think either the U.S. or North Korea is prepared for that." "A meeting could take place, but I doubt very much that it would amount to the kind of meaningful me