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| President Moon Jae-in delivers opening remarks before the start of a dinner meeting with South Korean residents in France at the Maison de la Mutualite conference center in Paris, early Sunday (KST). Yonhap |
By Kim Yoo-chul
PARIS ― President Moon Jae-in is seeking France's help to make a breakthrough in denuclearization talks with North Korea.
France is Moon's first stop on a nine-day tour of four European countries, which is largely centered on promoting peace on the Korean Peninsula. He arrived here Sunday morning.
"A permanent peace is approaching for the Korean Peninsula. It's coming. I want your support. I will build a Republic of Korea that you can be proud of," Moon said in a meeting with some 200 South Korean residents of France, Sunday morning (KST).
France, a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council (UNSC) and a key member of the European Union (EU) is one of two EU members alongside Estonia that have no diplomatic ties with North Korea. Other EU members including Germany and Spain have some sort of diplomatic contact with the North since the 2000s.
But France is one of the strongest backers for Moon's signature "engagement-centric" policy toward the North, and has long called for the international community to apply "carrots and sticks" to ensure the irreversible dismantling of Pyongyang's nuclear program.
Senior Cheong Wa Dae officials told The Korea Times that Moon plans to ask French President Emmanuel Macron to become a "responsible helper" in getting the UNSC to roll back some economic sanctions imposed on the North.
"Macron has praised Moon's efforts toward denuclearization saying South Korea's diplomatic outreach is bringing stability to the peninsula and Northeast Asia," said one presidential office official.
Although Moon will focus his second summit with the French leader, late Monday (KST), on the need for continued progress in nuclear talks, Cheong Wa Dae also said the two may discuss the outlines of sanctions relief for North Korea if it undertakes verifiable measures to abandon its nuclear capabilities.
A joint press conference is planned after the summit.
In a press release, Sunday, Moon's office said he thanked France for its support in the ongoing nuclear negotiations, and commitment to work with the United States to build a permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula.
"President Moon thanked France for its continued support for negotiations on nuclear disarmament on the peninsula. Seoul wants more assistance from Paris to ensure the talks will advance further," Cheong Wa Dae said in the release.
Winning more backing from the European Union (EU) for the complete denuclearization of the peninsula and to achieve a lasting peace are key agenda items for Moon on his European trip.
Seoul has shifted its focus to justify its updated assessment of North Korea and help it get better access to the global economy with "corresponding measures" from the international community. This follows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un reaffirming his commitment to continue working for a permanent peace on the peninsula.
Since 1995, over 370 million euros in aid has been provided in the form of food, sanitation medical assistance and agricultural support. In 2011, EU offered 10 million Euros in emergency aid following a severe food crisis in the North.
After France, Moon will fly to Italy, Tuesday, and visit the Vatican. He will also visit Belgium for this year's Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) summit.
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