hankyoreh

South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un shake hands before their summit at Unification House (Tongilgak) on the North Korean side of Panmunjeom on May 26. (provided by Blue House)

South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader provided a crucial turning point for getting the canceled North Korea-US summit back on track with their second inter-Korean summit on May 26 at the Unification House (Tongilgak) building on the North Korean side of Panmunjeom. After the meeting, US President Donald Trump made it clear he plans to renew his push for the North Korea-US summit in Singapore to go ahead on June 12. The Hankyoreh praises the South and North Korean leaders for meeting quickly and responding proactively to rescue the summit from disaster. It’s a move that also appears to have established Seoul more firmly in its “guide” role for North Korea-US relations.

Over the preceding days, the situation around the Korean Peninsula was in deep tumult. Things came to a head on May 24 with Trump’s abrupt announcement that he was canceling the North Korea-US summit. The embers of hope were fortunately salvaged when Pyongyang immediately voiced its commitment to holding the meeting and Trump expressed his welcome of that message.

The pivotal turning point came when the South and North Korean leaders held a completely unannounced second inter-Korean summit to share their firm commitment to the North Korea-US meeting. While there has not yet been official confirmation that the North Korea-US summit is happening as scheduled, the meeting is looking increasingly like a foregone conclusion.

While the confirmation of Pyongyang’s first commitment to the Singapore meeting may be the biggest gain from the inter-Korean summit, even greater significance lies in the frank dialogue that took place over the root causes responsible for endangering the North Korea-US summit’s prospects. The US is concerned that the North’s “step-by-step” solution could lead to something that falls short of complete denuclearization; North Korea has been afraid the “all-in-one” solution favored by the US would fail to guarantee its regime’s security.

In his conversation with Kim, President Moon shared Trump’s ideas for “ending the hostile relationship” between North Korea and the US and “engaging in economic cooperation.” He also realized a major achievement by drawing a commitment from Kim toward complete denuclearization. The core of this situation is especially evident in President Moon’s revelation that Kim is “concerned about whether he can really trust the US.” That means this problem will need to be solved for the North Korea-US summit to succeed.

The outcome of the inter-Korean meeting has been shared with the US, which is now fully aware of Kim’s feelings and the nature of the issues between the two sides. Now Pyongyang and Washington need to spend the remaining time coming up with a clear answer on these issues. With Trump having already repudiated a “Libya-style” solution, common ground shouldn’t be too difficult to find.

Trump’s stance following news of the inter-Korean summit is also an encouraging sign that gives hope for the North Korea-US summit to get back on track for success. On May 26, he strongly disputed a New York Times report claiming the June 12 summit day would be impossible. He also said the US “hasn’t changed” in considering the summit, clearly stating his plans to follow through on the original June 12 date. The White House’s announcement that a team for preliminary summit preparations would be departing for Singapore on May 27 is notable for strongly implying the meeting will go ahead as scheduled.

South Korea President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un approach each other at Unification House (Tongilgak) on the North Korean side of Panmunjeom on May 26. (provided by Blue House)

The second inter-Korean meeting was also quite meaningful in terms of its timing and format. The fact that it came less than a month after the Apr. 27 summit at Panmunjeom, the swift and informal holding within a day of the proposal being made, and the meeting’s orientation toward solving an immediate issue all seem to point to a new and unprecedented “style” of meetings between the South and North Korean leaders. If we can take advantage of these kinds of practical and unreserved meetings whether difficulties arise, they could be a major aid in advancing inter-Korean relations and addressing issues on the peninsula.

Another noteworthy outcome of this second inter-Korean summit was the plan to pursue a joint declaration of the Korean War’s end by South and North Korea and the US. In announcing the summit’s outcome, President Moon said, “If the North Korea-US summit is successful, I am hopeful that a declaration of the war’s end can be pursued through a trilateral summit by South and North Korea and the US.”

A trilateral declaration could mark the first gateway toward ensuring the North Korean regime’s security and establishing peace on the peninsula. Trump’s remarks on May 25 about the North Korea-US summit possibly being “extended” beyond its June 15 date “if necessary” are seen by some observers as pointing to a potential trilateral summit. Seoul needs to work proactively so that the leaders on all three sides can meet soon after the North Korea-US summit and declare the war over.

Still another significant outcome from the second inter-Korean summit was the two leaders’ agreement to get inter-Korean dialogue moving again after a brief lull. Inter-Korean relations are closely tied to relations between Pyongyang and Washington; a lack of breakthroughs in the latter poses many obstacles to historic advancements in the former. At the same time, we need a willingness by South and North Korea to address inter-Korean relations independently, building momentum for progress in North Korea-US relations. Seoul and Pyongyang will need to meet all the more actively when things are difficult.

Taking place amid a deadlock in North Korea-US negotiations, this second inter-Korean summit was a significant event that showed the two sides working together for peace on the peninsula. There is still time, however, before the North Korea-US summit actually takes place. Seoul and Pyongyang will need to stay focused until the end, doing their best for a fruitful North Korea-US summit that opens up a new chapter for peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Please direct comments or questions to [english@hani.co.kr]