President Moon reiterates commitment to intense sanctions and pressure on North Korea

Posted on : 2017-12-01 21:37 KST Modified on : 2019-10-19 20:29 KST
In separate remarks, the president also cast doubt on North Korea’s ability to miniaturize a nuclear warhead
outh Korean President Moon Jae-in speaks with US President Donald Trump following North Korea’s launch of a Hwasong-15 ICBM on Nov. 29. Both sides agreed on the need to maintain sanctions and pressure in response to the missile launch. (provided by Blue House)
outh Korean President Moon Jae-in speaks with US President Donald Trump following North Korea’s launch of a Hwasong-15 ICBM on Nov. 29. Both sides agreed on the need to maintain sanctions and pressure in response to the missile launch. (provided by Blue House)

South Korean President Moon Jae-in said on Nov. 30 that the Hwasong-15 missile launched the day before was “clearly the most advanced in all respects” of the missiles launched by North Korea to date, but stressed that technology in the areas of re-entry and terminal phase guidance was “not yet proven” and that it was “unclear” whether North Korea would obtain nuclear warhead miniaturization technology.

Moon made the remarks during a 60-minute telephone conversation with US President Donald Trump at 10 pm that day, adding that the “task that faces us now is to comprehensively prevent North Korea for achieving further advancements in nuclear and missile technology, and ultimately to get [North Korea] to abandon it,” Blue House spokesperson Park Soo-hyun announced.

The two leaders agreed on the need to maintain intense sanctions and pressures against Pyongyang until it agrees to dialogue to end its nuclear and missile development. Moon said the “very initiation of discussions toward the purchasing of state-of-the-art US military equipment sends a big message to North Korea” – a position that Trump supported, the Blue House said.

The hourlong conversation that the two leaders had on the evening of Nov. 30 over the issue of North Korea’s intercontinental ballistic missile launch is seen as an indication of how seriously they are taking the situation. Both agreed that pressure and sanctions should be intensified until North Korea abandons its nuclear and missile programs and agrees to dialogue, and both stressed the importance of a peaceful and successful staging of the upcoming Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.

During their conversation from 10 to 11 pm that day, the leaders discussed additional response measures. Moon and Trump also spoke for 20 minutes by telephone immediately after the North Korean ballistic missile launch the day before – meaning that the two spent a total of 80 minutes over two days in close discussions on the issue.

Moon said the South Korean government “takes the current situation very seriously, with North Korea declaring in a government statement yesterday that its ICBM development had reached its completion stage and that [North Korea] had achieved complete nuclear armament.” Moon also explained the response from the South Korean military, reporting that the Army, Navy, and Air Force had “held precision strike exercises just minutes after North Korea’s ballistic missile launch, which involved the launch of three types of missiles: surface-to-surface, ship-to-surface, and air-to-surface.”

“This was intended to show North Korea in no uncertain terms that we have the capability to strike against the source of provocations,” he said.

In response, Trump expressed his agreement on the need to deter North Korean provocations and respond to the threat on a basis of overwhelming superiority of force rooted in a firm allied defensive posture. He also voiced full-scale support for South Korea’s efforts to strengthen its defensive capabilities by acquiring state-of-the-art military assets and reaffirmed the US’s firm pledge to provide for South Korea’s defense.

“South Korea and the US agreed to work together as allies in cooperating closely to maximally intensify the international community’s sanctions and pressure against North Korea,” Park Soo-hyun said.

Notably, the two leaders agreed on the need for a peaceful staging of the Pyeongchang Olympics in February even amid the intense pressure and sanctions. Moon expressed “profound thanks” after “receiving reports on the decision to send a senior-level US delegation to the Pyeongchang Olympics.”

“I am sure that once the US’s decision is announced shortly, it will inspire confidence in the Olympics’ security with the IOC and countries of the world, while sending a firm message to North Korea,” Moon said.

In response, Trump said Moon could “also notify the IOC directly of the US’s decision to send a senior-level delegation,” the Blue House reported.

During the conversation, Moon emphasized the remaining questions over North Korea’s establishment of reentry, terminal phase guidance, and warhead miniaturization technology for its Hwasong-15 ballistic missile. His remarks were seen as indicating his attempts to maintain control of the situation and prevent it from escalating.

Meanwhile, the Blue House held a meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) standing committee earlier that afternoon, with NSC director Chung Eui-yong presiding and Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang Kyung-wha, Minister of Unification Cho Myung-gyun, and Minister of National Defense Song Young-moo attending. The focus of the discussions was on possible responses to North Korean long-range ballistic missile launches and diplomatic and security measures for a successful staging of the Pyeongchang Olympics, sources reported. The NSC is reportedly in discussions with the US and other countries on specific response measures.

The South Korean government appears to set to follow along with international sanctions against the North, operating in a framework of cooperation with the US and Japan. The US is actively weighing two approaches: working through the UN Security Council to block maritime traffic to North Korea with support from South Korea and Japan, and cooperating with China and Russia to halt crude oil supplies to the North.

“The administration has been in close discussions on response plans at the UNSC level with UNSC permanent members, including the US,” said Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Noh Kyu-duk on Nov. 30.

Moon is currently scheduled to visit China for a bilateral summit in mid-December, where he is expected to request that Chinese President Xi Jinping implement measures to pressure North Korea. Some are also predicting he may reiterate calls for Beijing to use its influence to improve the situation.

 

By Seong Yeon-cheol and Kim Ji-eun, staff reporters

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

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