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South Korean President Moon Jae-in and US President Donald Trump during their summit at the White House on Apr. 11. (Kim Jung-hyo

During his summit with US President Donald Trump in Washington, DC, on Apr. 11, South Korean President Moon Jae-in said that “improving inter-Korean relations will help with the denuclearization talks” and said he would “push to hold an inter-Korean summit soon.”

“The two leaders are in agreement about their shared goals of achieving complete denuclearization and bringing peace to the Korean Peninsula,” said Blue House National Security Office Director Chung Eui-yong during a press briefing, which lasted 116 minutes, announcing the results of the South Korea-US summit.

“The two leaders share the view that the top-down approach is essential in the Korean Peninsula peace process. President Trump emphasized that the door to dialogue with Chairman Kim Jong-un is always open,” Chung said.

“President Moon said that when he gets back home he’ll have us get in touch with North Korea and start pushing for an early summit. Nothing has been decided yet about the timing or location of the summit,” said a high-ranking official at the Blue House. In connection with this, Trump asked Moon to quickly pass along whatever he learns about North Korea’s position in an inter-Korean summit or another inter-Korean meeting, the same official said.

Moon and Trump also reportedly gave a positive assessment about North Korea’s behavior since the second North Korea-US summit in Hanoi and held an in-depth discussion about ways to organize a third North Korea-US summit.

“The two leaders approve of the fact that North Korea has held to its decision to abandon its two-track line of nuclear and economic development, which it announced during a plenary session of the Workers’ Party of Korea Central Committee in April 2018. They also had a very frank discussion about specific ways to organize a third North Korea-US summit as a means of promoting denuclearization negotiations in the future,” said a high-ranking official at the Blue House.

When asked before his meeting with Moon about the possibility of holding a third summit with North Korea, Trump remained noncommittal. “A third summit could happen. And it’s step by step. It’s not a fast process. [. . .] If it goes fast, it’s not going to be the proper deal,” he said.

“I don’t think any conflicting opinions were voiced by [South Korea and the US], and I don’t agree with the assessment or observation [that there were conflicting opinions]. It’s possible for there to be various opinions about the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the establishment of a permanent peace. Let me just say that there was a candid discussion about that,” an official at the Blue House said in regard to the fact that Trump didn’t give a definitive answer about resuming operations at the Kaesong Industrial Complex or tourism to Mt. Kumgang. Previously, Trump told reporters he was prepared to fully support that at the right time, but that it wasn’t the right time.

Moon asked Trump to visit South Korea as soon as circumstances permit. “President Moon invited President Trump to visit South Korea at his earliest convenience, and President Trump expressed his gratitude for the invitation,” Chung said. “President Trump responded positively. Moving forward, we’re planning to discuss [President Trump’s visit to South Korea] through diplomatic channels,” said a high-ranking official at the Blue House.

The two leaders were also in agreement about strengthening the South Korea-US alliance. “The two leaders reflected on the historical meaning of the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean Provisional Government and agreed to continue strengthening their alliance, which is a linchpin for peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia,” Chung said.

“President Moon and President Trump also mentioned the forest fire that recently broke out in Gangwon Province. President Trump praised the courage of the initial responders who saved many people’s lives through their heroic efforts, and President Moon expressed his gratitude to the American soldiers who highlighted the bonds of the South Korea-US alliance by helping extinguish the forest fires.”

“Another major result of this summit was its reaffirmation of the importance of the South Korea-US alliance. The two leaders praised the US military’s decision to provide manpower and equipment to help put out the forest fire in Gangwon Province, thus extending the South Korea-US alliance behind the areas of politics and the economy and into the social arena as well,” the Blue House official said.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in and US President Donald Trump during their summit at the White House’s Oval Office on Apr. 11. (Blue House photo pool)

The Blue House concluded that this summit had cleared away the uncertainty following the second North Korea-US summit in Hanoi and had revived the momentum for achieving denuclearization through dialogue.

“Generally speaking, there are two respects in which the South Korea-US summit was significant. First, it eliminated various kinds of uncertainty that had appeared after the Hanoi summit and renewed the momentum for resuming dialogue. It confirmed the US’ determination to hold follow-up talks with North Korea as soon as possible and reconfirmed its commitment to keep working for complete denuclearization through dialogue and diplomacy and for the establishment of a lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula,” the Blue House official said.

“Second, the two leaders agreed that easing military tensions on the Korean Peninsula and improving inter-Korean relations, matters supported by the South Korean government, help maintain the momentum for the denuclearization talks.”

“I believe that this summit itself will be a great help in maintaining the momentum for dialogue between North Korea and the US,” Moon said on his Facebook page.

Moon will be returning home on Apr. 12, after completing his three-day visit to the US.

By Seong Yeon-cheol, staff reporter

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