By Yoon Sojung
Photos Cheong Wa Dae

President Moon Jae-in on Feb. 9 held summit meetings with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte in Yongpyeong, Gangwon-do Province.

President Moon and the other leaders discussed cooperation on the PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games, efforts to maintain the peaceful mood on the Korean Peninsula, and bilateral cooperation.

In the summit talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, President Moon emphasized the Seoul-Tokyo relationship.

President Moon said, "I hope both countries can truly become congenial friends."

He urged Japan to face its history while continuing future-forward cooperation. President Moon also proposed to the Japanese leader that they restore "shuttle diplomacy" and close communication between the heads of the state of the two countries.

Regarding North Korean issues, President Moon said, "On the occasion of the PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games, we are working hard to pave a path toward resolving the North Korean nuclear weapons issue, settling permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula."

President Moon urged his Japanese counterpart to actively engage in dialogue so that improvement in the inter-Korean relationship and dialogue could lead toward a path toward denuclearization.

Prime Minister Abe said that the success of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics can continue into the Tokyo 202 Olympic Summer Games, while wishing good luck to the athletes from both countries.

The Japanese prime minister said that he hopes to reaffirm the close relationship among Tokyo, Seoul and Washington, while Korean and Japanese leaders can exchange opinions in an honest manner in order to build a future-leading relationship between the two countries.



In a meeting with Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte that followed the Korea-Japan summit, President Moon highlighted the friendship between Korea and the Netherlands, while noting that Gangwon-do Province was protected by Dutch soldiers during the Korean War (1950-1953).

President Moon said, "Through the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, Seoul is expecting a peace Olympics that can lead Pyongyang to the dialogue table and to resolve the North Korean nuclear weapons issue, as well."

He noted that the Netherlands is a non-permanent member of the U.N. Security Council and a chair country of the U.N. Security Council. He asked for the Netherlands' support in order to maintain a peaceful mood after the Olympic Games so that it could bring a peaceful resolution to the North Korean nuclear issues.

Prime Minister Mark Rutte said, "As a non-permanent member of the U.N. Security Council and the chair country of the U.N. Security Council, the Netherlands will not spare any support or sanctions and will help the Korean government provide as much support as possible."

arete@korea.kr