By Jun Ji-hye
A ruling party lawmaker, who was President Moon Jae-in’s special envoy to China, is stirring up controversy over his remarks that Moon and Chinese President Xi Jinping have a shared understanding that suspending North Korea’s nuclear and missile provocations and South Korea-U.S. combined exercises at the same time would be the most realistic way of resolving the North Korea issue _ an idea which Moon has opposed.
Rep. Lee Hae-chan of the Democratic Party of Korea said the two heads of state also agreed that pushing for negotiations on denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and a peace treaty between North Korea and the United States at the same time would be another solution in addition to the so-called “freeze-for-freeze” idea.
“Presidents Moon and Xi have met twice and talked about the issues sufficiently,” Lee said Thursday in a speech to an academic conference organized to mark the 17th anniversary of late President Kim Dae-jung’s winning of the 2000 Nobel Peace Prize.
“I can say that the two heads of state have a shared understanding that the two measures would be the most realistic option,” the seven-term lawmaker said.
Rep. Lee visited China in May as the President’s special envoy soon after Moon’s election.
The remarks are being disputed as they are in stark contrast to the existing position of the Moon administration.
While Beijing has called for the freeze-for-freeze strategy to address the North Korea issue, the Moon government has said the North’s “unlawful” provocations cannot be exchanged for Seoul and Washington’s “legitimate” defense drills.
Lee’s statements are also against the stance of the U.S. government that has claimed it cannot accept a freeze-for-freeze agreement.
China has suggested suspending the North’s military provocations and South Korea-U.S. combined drills at the same time, as well as simultaneously negotiating denuclearization of the peninsula and a Pyongyang-Washington peace treaty, as a solution to resolving nuclear stalemate.
If Lee’s remarks that Moon agreed with Beijing’s ideas are true, it could become a potential source of conflict between Seoul and Washington.
Officials from the presidential office denied Lee’s statements, saying the senior lawmaker made the remarks without consulting Cheong Wa Dae.
“There have been no such discussions regarding the ideas,” a senior official said, asking not to be named. “No decision has been made, either.”
Eyes are on whether Moon and Xi will deal with the ideas initiated by China during their summit to be held during the President’s state visit to Beijing from Dec. 13 to 17.
Rep. Lee said he will accompany President Moon on the trip.
“The two leaders have built mutual trust so far,” Lee said. “I believe relations, which had been icy, will be improved further after this summit.”
Earlier, Cheong Wa Dae also denied reports that the South Korean military is considering consulting with the U.S. armed forces over whether to reschedule their annual combined exercises slated for early next year so that they will not overlap with the PyeongChang Winter Olympics and Paralympics.
Seoul and Washington conduct annual Key Resolve drills around March, which North Korea has protested and called rehearsals for an invasion.
The PyeongChang Winter Olympics will be held in South Korea from Feb. 9 to 25, and the Paralympics from March 9 to 18.