Press Releases
President Moon: Implementation of N.K.-U.S. denuclearization pact key to inter-Korean ties
Apr 12,2018- Tells senior advisory group “Inter-Korean summit must succeed to make North Korea-U.S. summit successful”
- “Take this grand opportunity for denuclearization, peace settlement and sustainable development of inter-Korean relations, for such a chance will hardly come again”
Policy Briefing｜2018.4.12
President Moon on April 12 said inter-Korean relations cannot be resolved by a bilateral agreement alone but with the implementation of a denuclearization accord between North Korea and the U.S.
In a luncheon meeting with members of a senior advisory group for inter-Korean talks at Cheong Wa Dae, the president, noting that the inter-Korean summit was just two weeks away and bilateral talks between the North and the U.S. were being scheduled, said, “We should make the inter-Korean summit a success so that it can lead to the success of the North Korea-U.S. summit, and none is an easy task.”
The 21-member group included Lim Dong-won, honorary chairman of the Korea Peace Forum, Kim Young-hee, a senior reporter of the major daily JoongAng Ilbo, and Kim Jung-soo, director of the Korea Institute for Women and Peace.
President Moon said both summits will offer “a great opportunity that will hardly come again for the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, settlement of a permanent peace and strides for sustainable development of inter-Korean relations,” adding, “We need to seize this opportunity.” He said the inter-Korean summit could be pursued owing to previous experience and achievements accrued from previous bilateral agreements from the 2000 and 2007 inter-Korean summits, including the July 4 South-North Joint Statement of 1972, South-North Basic Agreement of 1991, June 15 South-North Joint Declaration of 2000 and the October 4 Inter-Korean Summit Statement of 2007.
“However, the current situation has never been graver. South-North relations have broken down over the past ten-odd years, military tension has peaked, and the North Korean nuclear and missile programs have gotten so advanced that even the U.S. feels threatened,” the chief executive said.
“Today’s South-North relations cannot be resolved by the government arbitrarily. They can be resolved only when the people sympathize and support the government’s policy toward the North. The government will lead communication with the people but I hope you, senior advisers who have more persuasive power than any other vis-à-vis South-North relations, will play major roles in uniting the people’s minds.”
President Moon said Lim, chairman of the advisory group, and each member was more than an expert in inter-Korean relations, having helped develop bilateral ties by directly participating in previous talks between both sides.
“We’ve invited you as senior advisers as we need your experience, vision and wisdom in preparing for the success of the forthcoming South-North summit. Your experience, vision and wisdom are desperately needed not only for the success of the South-North summit but to make it lead to the success of the North Korea-U.S. summit,” he said.
“The times ask us to make the Korean Peninsula into a land of peace and prosperity before leaving it to succeeding generations. I hope to fulfill this task through the upcoming summit by uniting the minds and potential of the people.”
President Moon then said he was attending the luncheon to listen to the views of the senior advisers and encouraged every one of them to talk, saying, “Whether it’s about agenda or strategy, something for agreement or schedule, or anything, please speak freely and I’m all ears.”
Hong Seok-hyun said, “Achievement is more important than protocol and events. To this end, it’s imperative to have prior consultations with North Korea and policy tuning with the U.S.”
Hwang Won-tak said, “After the denuclearization of North Korea, the issue of military balance between the South and North could emerge as a stumbling block. The government should set its stance on this matter ahead of time.”
Kim Jung-soo said, “I hope the first ladies of both Koreas work out joint programs to improve the quality of life for women and promote the rights of children on the Korean Peninsula.”
Kim Young-hee said, “In the past, a summit meeting was an achievement in itself. Now, bringing out North Korea’s will to denuclearize will be a great achievement of the summit.” He then proposed the formation of an economic cluster linking the South Korean port city of Incheon and the North Korean border city of Gaesong spanning the Yellow Sea, citing the example of a Special Zone of Peace and Cooperation in the West (Yellow) Sea established following the October 4 Inter-Korean Summit Statement of 2007.
Lee Jae-joung said, “The desperate wish of both Koreas need to be delivered to the U.S., and that is the declaration of the end of the (Korean) War.” He recommended that inter-Korean summit be held regularly as well as meeting involving the two Koreas or three or four nations continuously.
Lee Jong-seok also recommended a formal declaration on ending the Korean War, and proposed the withdrawal of weapons from the guard posts at the Demilitarized Zone and opening of diplomatic missions in Pyeongyang and Seoul. Jeong Se-hyun, recollecting the time when he prepared for an inter-Korean summit, emphasized the importance of publicity, saying “When the summit’s importance is 100 percent, 40 percent comes from the meeting itself and 60 percent comes from publicity, as we used to say. As the summit talks progress, you should keep thinking how to convey their content to mass media and the people.” He also suggested the positive use of expert groups.
Advisory group chairman Lim said, “Based on our experience at the time of the June 15, 2000, summit, a preliminary meeting is a must before the inter-Korean summit. After we gave a draft agreement to the North in the preliminary meeting, they told us that this raised their understanding of the summit talks.”
After listening to these recommendations and advice, President Moon said, “The U.S. and North Korea have shown sincere attitudes toward the talks. Yet a gap remains between the two sides and we face the task of narrowing this gap. A variety of bilateral and multilateral talks will ensue in the coming days, and I request you, senior advisers, to render to us the extensive knowledge and wisdom accumulated from your experiences at the time of such talks, too.”
- “Take this grand opportunity for denuclearization, peace settlement and sustainable development of inter-Korean relations, for such a chance will hardly come again”
Policy Briefing｜2018.4.12
President Moon (center) on April 12 speaks to senior advisers for inter-Korean dialogue at Cheong Wa Dae before having a luncheon with them.
President Moon on April 12 said inter-Korean relations cannot be resolved by a bilateral agreement alone but with the implementation of a denuclearization accord between North Korea and the U.S.
In a luncheon meeting with members of a senior advisory group for inter-Korean talks at Cheong Wa Dae, the president, noting that the inter-Korean summit was just two weeks away and bilateral talks between the North and the U.S. were being scheduled, said, “We should make the inter-Korean summit a success so that it can lead to the success of the North Korea-U.S. summit, and none is an easy task.”
The 21-member group included Lim Dong-won, honorary chairman of the Korea Peace Forum, Kim Young-hee, a senior reporter of the major daily JoongAng Ilbo, and Kim Jung-soo, director of the Korea Institute for Women and Peace.
President Moon said both summits will offer “a great opportunity that will hardly come again for the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, settlement of a permanent peace and strides for sustainable development of inter-Korean relations,” adding, “We need to seize this opportunity.” He said the inter-Korean summit could be pursued owing to previous experience and achievements accrued from previous bilateral agreements from the 2000 and 2007 inter-Korean summits, including the July 4 South-North Joint Statement of 1972, South-North Basic Agreement of 1991, June 15 South-North Joint Declaration of 2000 and the October 4 Inter-Korean Summit Statement of 2007.
“However, the current situation has never been graver. South-North relations have broken down over the past ten-odd years, military tension has peaked, and the North Korean nuclear and missile programs have gotten so advanced that even the U.S. feels threatened,” the chief executive said.
President Moon in an April 12 luncheon at Cheong Wa Dae urges members of a senior advisory group on inter-Korean dialogue to “play great roles in uniting the people’s minds.”
“Today’s South-North relations cannot be resolved by the government arbitrarily. They can be resolved only when the people sympathize and support the government’s policy toward the North. The government will lead communication with the people but I hope you, senior advisers who have more persuasive power than any other vis-à-vis South-North relations, will play major roles in uniting the people’s minds.”
President Moon said Lim, chairman of the advisory group, and each member was more than an expert in inter-Korean relations, having helped develop bilateral ties by directly participating in previous talks between both sides.
“We’ve invited you as senior advisers as we need your experience, vision and wisdom in preparing for the success of the forthcoming South-North summit. Your experience, vision and wisdom are desperately needed not only for the success of the South-North summit but to make it lead to the success of the North Korea-U.S. summit,” he said.
“The times ask us to make the Korean Peninsula into a land of peace and prosperity before leaving it to succeeding generations. I hope to fulfill this task through the upcoming summit by uniting the minds and potential of the people.”
President Moon then said he was attending the luncheon to listen to the views of the senior advisers and encouraged every one of them to talk, saying, “Whether it’s about agenda or strategy, something for agreement or schedule, or anything, please speak freely and I’m all ears.”
Hong Seok-hyun said, “Achievement is more important than protocol and events. To this end, it’s imperative to have prior consultations with North Korea and policy tuning with the U.S.”
Hwang Won-tak said, “After the denuclearization of North Korea, the issue of military balance between the South and North could emerge as a stumbling block. The government should set its stance on this matter ahead of time.”
Kim Jung-soo said, “I hope the first ladies of both Koreas work out joint programs to improve the quality of life for women and promote the rights of children on the Korean Peninsula.”
Kim Young-hee said, “In the past, a summit meeting was an achievement in itself. Now, bringing out North Korea’s will to denuclearize will be a great achievement of the summit.” He then proposed the formation of an economic cluster linking the South Korean port city of Incheon and the North Korean border city of Gaesong spanning the Yellow Sea, citing the example of a Special Zone of Peace and Cooperation in the West (Yellow) Sea established following the October 4 Inter-Korean Summit Statement of 2007.
Lee Jae-joung said, “The desperate wish of both Koreas need to be delivered to the U.S., and that is the declaration of the end of the (Korean) War.” He recommended that inter-Korean summit be held regularly as well as meeting involving the two Koreas or three or four nations continuously.
Lee Jong-seok also recommended a formal declaration on ending the Korean War, and proposed the withdrawal of weapons from the guard posts at the Demilitarized Zone and opening of diplomatic missions in Pyeongyang and Seoul. Jeong Se-hyun, recollecting the time when he prepared for an inter-Korean summit, emphasized the importance of publicity, saying “When the summit’s importance is 100 percent, 40 percent comes from the meeting itself and 60 percent comes from publicity, as we used to say. As the summit talks progress, you should keep thinking how to convey their content to mass media and the people.” He also suggested the positive use of expert groups.
Advisory group chairman Lim said, “Based on our experience at the time of the June 15, 2000, summit, a preliminary meeting is a must before the inter-Korean summit. After we gave a draft agreement to the North in the preliminary meeting, they told us that this raised their understanding of the summit talks.”
After listening to these recommendations and advice, President Moon said, “The U.S. and North Korea have shown sincere attitudes toward the talks. Yet a gap remains between the two sides and we face the task of narrowing this gap. A variety of bilateral and multilateral talks will ensue in the coming days, and I request you, senior advisers, to render to us the extensive knowledge and wisdom accumulated from your experiences at the time of such talks, too.”
Full version of President Moon’s opening remarks at luncheon with senior advisory group.