By Kim Min-Jeung

President Moon Jae-in said on July 13 that, “Once complete denuclearization and peace is built on the Korean Peninsula, the two Koreas will draw a new economic map as one economic community.”

On the final day of his official state visit to Singapore, President Moon was invited to give a Singapore Lecture at the Orchard Hotel. During his speech, President Moon said that permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula would serve as a new economic drive for Southeast Asia, and help all of Asia, including Singapore and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), to "emerge as the most prosperous region in the world.” About 400 officials, local Koreans and top opinion leaders from Singapore, as well, attended the event.

President Moon outlined a three-step peace plan that could achieve peace and prosperity in Southeast Asia, too. He said that if North Korea fulfills its denuclearization promises, peace would be built on the Korean Peninsula, bringing forth inter-Korean economic cooperation that would result in peace and prosperity across Southeast Asia and nearby countries.

The president said he agreed with North Korean Chairman Kim Jong un’s desire to develop North Korea into a "normal nation" as proclaimed at two earlier inter-Korean summits.

“If North Korea gives more substance on the implementation of denuclearization, and if South Korea and the U.S speed up comprehensive corresponding measures, the whole process would accelerate," he said.

President Moon also sought cooperation from Southeast Asia, saying, “The once-vibrant economic cooperation between North Korea and ASEAN will be revived if the North were to be invited to the various consultative bodies run by ASEAN.”

jer2co@korea.kr