President Moon renews commitment to a denuclearized Korean Peninsula

Posted on : 2018-01-11 17:14 KST Modified on : 2019-10-19 20:29 KST
Improvements in inter-Korean relations can contribute to resolving the NK nuclear issue
President Moon Jae-in gives his New Year’s address on Jan. 10 at the Blue House. (Blue House Photo Pool)
President Moon Jae-in gives his New Year’s address on Jan. 10 at the Blue House. (Blue House Photo Pool)

In a New Year’s address and press conference on Jan. 10, President Moon Jae-in shared his commitment to using the resumption of dialogue and improved inter-Korean relations to achieve denuclearization and the establishment of peace on the Korean Peninsula. He also sent the clear message that the international community’s intensive sanctions and pressure against North Korea were intended to bring Pyongyang into dialogue, while stressing that Seoul would cooperate closely with Washington in pursuing inter-Korean dialogue and encouraging Pyongyang to begin dialogue toward denuclearization.

“The ultimate goal of our diplomacy and national defense is to prevent war from happening again on the Korean Peninsula,” Moon said in his New Year’s address.

“I do not want immediate reunification,” he added.

Moon went on to state his goal as “resolving the North Korean nuclear issue during my term and establishing robust peace.” It was a reiteration of the “four nos” approach previously stated in his first South Korea-US summit in June 2017 and a Körber Foundation speech in Germany the following July, in which he said Seoul would not adopt hostile policies toward the North, attempt a preemptive attack, pursue regime change or collapse in Pyongyang, or attempt to artificially hasten reunification.

In his address, Moon also stressed the positive feedback loop between improved inter-Korean relations and resolution on the nuclear issue, calling denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula “a goal and a process toward peace.”

During his press conference later, Moon said improvements in inter-Korean relations and resolution of the nuclear issue “are not matters where we can proceed separately.”

“Only when the North Korean nuclear issue is solved can inter-Koreans be improved, and improvements in inter-Korean relations will help to solve the nuclear issue. I believe efforts at two-track dialogue will contribute to a positive feedback loop,” he said.

Moon’s message is that by relieving the heavy strain on inter-Korean relations and building trust as they pursue dialogue, momentum can be generated for North Korea-US dialogue to resolve the nuclear issue. At the same time, it is also informed by the perception that with the international community imposing sanctions on the North, improvements in inter-Korean relations will be constrained without some progress in resolving the nuclear issue.

Along similar lines, Moon repeatedly stressed in his press conference remarks that the US and South Korea “have cooperated closely and without differences on North Korea policy, and in particular on our response to North Korea’s nuclear and missile provocations.” He also made clear that improvements in inter-Korean relations would also be constrained and unsustainable without a basis in cooperation with the US.

Moon offers praise to US President Trump

“I believed President [Donald] Trump has contributed greatly to this inter-Korean dialogue happening, and I would like to express my thanks,” Moon said.

“While dialogue has begun with North Korea, the North Korean nuclear issue has not been resolved, and South Korea will continue coordinating with the international community on sanctions,” he added.

Commenting on the agreement to send a North Korean delegation to the Pyeongchang Olympics at recent senior-level inter-Korean talks, Moon said, “It has just begun, but it’s a good start.”

“I don’t think this is the stage to get too far ahead of ourselves and start making all kinds of assumptions,” he continued.

A desire for continued dialogue

“If possible, I would like dialogue with senior [North Korean] representatives to continue during the Pyeongchang Olympics,” he added.

Moon went on to say it was “fortunate that North Korea appeared for dialogue before tensions increased and an unintended clash occurred.”

“What North Korea has appeared for is dialogue to improve inter-Korean relations,” he said, adding that “bringing North Korea into dialogue toward denuclearization is a task we will have to continue working toward going forward.”

When asked about the possibility of an inter-Korean summit, Moon replied that Seoul “will not have dialogue for the sake of dialogue,” but said he was “prepared to agree to a summit at any time if the conditions are there and there are prospects [for results].”

By Kim Bo-hyeop and Jung In-hwan, staff reporters

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

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