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| NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg speaks with President Moon Jae-in at Cheong Wa Dae, Thursday. They discussed cooperation in resolving North Korea's nuclear and missile threats. / Yonhap |
By Kim Rahn
President Moon Jae-in and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg reaffirmed their cooperation in dealing with North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, Cheong Wa Dae said Thursday.
The meeting took place at the presidential office as part of Stoltenberg's trip to Asia.
Moon expressed gratitude for NATO issuing statements to condemn North Korea's provocations and continuously supporting South Korea's stance on the issue.
The former Norwegian prime minister, who visited the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) earlier in the day, said he was impressed at the soldiers there serving for peace in Korea and the world.
Moon agreed, noting that the DMZ is only 45 kilometers away from the South Korean capital. "(Considering the short distance from the North), We could face disaster even by conventional weapons attacks, not by nuclear or long-range missiles," he said. "I believe you understand that it is desperate to resolve the North Korea nuclear issue peacefully without military clashes."
The President also appreciated the NATO head's comments against risks of military clashes and his stressing the need to resolve the issue diplomatically.
Stoltenberg said the North's nuclear and missiles are threats to NATO members as well, so international cooperation is required. "I think not only diplomatic and political pressure but also economic sanctions should be imposed on the North. The purpose of pressure is to resolve the issue peacefully and politically. We need to make efforts to address the issue through dialogue and pressure," he was quoted as saying by presidential spokesman Park Soo-hyun.
The President also highly evaluated NATO's capability in keeping peace and security in Europe through its strong deterrence.
"Many NATO members took part in the Korean War, fighting for the South and providing medical supplies and other aid, so South Korea feels friendly toward NATO. I hope the cooperative relationship between NATO and South Korea, as global partners, will be enhanced, especially in the military sector," he said.
At the meeting, Stoltenberg was accompanied by Alejandro Alvargonzales, assistant secretary general for political affairs and security policy, and Gjermund Eide, a military aide to the NATO chief.
Earlier during his visit to Japan, Stoltenberg said Monday that North Korea's missile ranges reach not only the western parts of the U.S. but almost all parts of Europe. He said the North's nuclear and missile programs were a global threat, calling for the international community to strengthen sanctions and pressure against the country to bring it to negotiations.
Pyongyang denounced the remarks via a statement reported by the Korean Central News Agency Wednesday.
"It is a sophistry to denounce our nuclear weapons as a threat to Europe and the world," the statement said. "The core of the Korean Peninsula issue is confrontation between the U.S., which is hostile to us and makes nuclear threats, and our republic, which is standing against it to protect the country, people's dignity and independence."
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