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South Korean President Moon Jae-in in an interview with the BBC at the Blue House on Oct. 12. (provided by the Blue House)

On Oct. 12, South Korean President Moon Jae-in said that the denuclearization discussed by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un means getting rid of everything, including all of the North’s current nuclear weapons and nuclear materials. Moon was also optimistic about the end-of-war declaration by South Korea, North Korea and the US, which he described as “just a matter of time” and something that “will definitely happen.”

Moon made the remarks during an interview with the BBC on Friday, prior to a nine-day tour of Europe that will begin on Oct. 13. “The complete denuclearization that Kim Jong-un is talking about includes everything, starting with no more testing of nuclear weapons or missiles and continuing with shutting down the facilities used to produce nuclear weapons and develop missiles and getting rid of all the nuclear weapons and materials currently in their possession,” he said.

This is the first time Kim has specifically communicated to Moon his intention to give up not only his “past nukes” (the ones already built) and “future nukes” (future development and testing aimed at enhancing his nuclear capability) but also his “present nukes,” which is to say the North’s current nuclear arsenal. North Korea appears to be indicating that it’s completely willing to submit its nuclear weapon inventory, which it has been strongly reluctant to do, provided that there are “corresponding measures” from the US, including an end-of-war declaration.

When asked whether the end-of-war declaration will take place within the year, Moon said the “end-of-war declaration is just a matter of time; I believe that it will definitely happen.”

“The end-of-war declaration has been adequately discussed with the US, including with President Donald Trump. It’s a political declaration wrapping up the long-standing hostile relationship between North Korea and the US, provided that the North takes certain measures. South Korea and the US are in agreement that the declaration should take place as soon as possible,” Moon said.

Moon also asked the international community for its enthusiastic cooperation in regard to relaxing sanctions on North Korea. When asked about Trump’s remark that South Korea can’t ease sanctions on the North without the US’s approval, Moon said he regards this as a “generic statement of the fact that, up to a certain point, South Korea and the US have to cooperate closely and coordinate their movements in regard to international sanctions.”

At the same time, Moon emphasized that the option of easing the sanctions should be considered when North Korea’s denuclearization reaches a certain point. “Once North Korea’s denuclearization arrives at a certain stage, we’ll need to seriously consider gradually easing economic sanctions on the North. If the North continues to take sincere steps toward denuclearization and reaches what we believe to be the point of no return, the UN can begin to ease its sanctions,” he said.

Moon predicted that the second North Korea-US summit would be held immediately after the US midterm elections, which are scheduled for Nov. 6.

“I’m told the two sides are working on the technical issues of time and location for the second summit so that it can be held soon after the US midterm elections. I hope that the two leaders will reach a bold agreement on the timetable so that North Korea’s denuclearization measures and the US’s corresponding measures can move forward quickly and simultaneously,” Moon said, revealing his high hopes.

By Seong Yeon-cheol, staff reporter

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