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The May 2 Washington Post interview with Moon Jae-in

During an interview published in the Washington Post on May 2, Minjoo Party of Korea presidential candidate Moon Jae-in said, “I believe President Trump is more reasonable than he is generally perceived.”

“I agree with President Trump’s method of applying sanctions and pressure to North Korea to bring them out to negotiate,” Moon said during the interview, which took place on Apr. 27.

“President Trump uses strong rhetoric toward North Korea but, during the election campaign, he also said he could talk over a burger with Kim Jong Un. I am for that kind of pragmatic approach to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue.”

“I think I am on the same page as President Trump. President Trump judged the Obama administration’s policy of strategic patience as a failure with regard to North Korea, so he has stressed the need for a change in North Korean policy,” Moon said. His remarks appear to be designed to emphasize to South Korean conservatives and to the US government that there will not be a rupture in the US-ROK alliance even if he becomes president.

When the Washington Post reporter expressed surprise that Moon was agreeing with Trump, Moon said, “Trump talks about strenuous pressure, sanctions and even the possibility of a pre-emptive strike, but I believe his ultimate goal is to bring North Korea back to negotiations for the nuclear program. In that respect, I share the same opinion as President Trump.”

By Jung Yu-gyung, staff reporter

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