By Sohn JiAe
Photos = Cheong Wa Dae

President Moon Jae-in held a summit with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at her offices in Berlin on July 5. The two leaders talked about ways to further enhance bilateral cooperation and issues of mutual interest.

They focused on North Korea in particular.

Calling the test launch of a ballistic missile by the North one day earlier as “a highly developed missile that poses a threat to peace on the Korean Peninsula and around the world,” President Moon stressed the need for stronger sanctions and greater pressure to stop the regime from carrying out further missile tests.

He called on Germany to play its role as the chair of the upcoming G20 Summit, to draft a joint resolution among G20 member states to deal with North Korea.

President Moon also emphasized taking a peaceful approach to solving the North Korea problem, as well as sanctions and political pressure.



“Germany knows well the situation on the peninsula, since it used to be a divided nation, too,” said the German chancellor. “We will work together and support the Korean government and its people to deal with the North’s further provocations from nuclear weapons and missiles.”

As for the possibility of the adoption of a joint statement concerning Pyongyang at the upcoming G20 Summit, Chancellor Merkel said, “It would not be that easy, actually, but it might be possible that we could have in the statement what the G20 members agreed on about North Korea at the meeting, as well as the fact that we will agree to U.N. Security Council resolutions and action."

jiae5853@korea.kr