Moon offers olive branch to Japan

President Moon Jae-in delivers a speech during a ceremony to mark the 74th anniversary of the Korean Peninsula's liberation from Japanese colonial rule at the Independence Hall of Korea in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, Thursday. Yonhap

NK urged not to spoil 'critical juncture' for denuclearization

By Yi Whan-woo, Kim Yoo-chul

President Moon Jae-in Thursday offered an olive branch to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to end the trade dispute, stressing Seoul will "gladly join hands" if Tokyo cooperates to resolve the friction through dialogue.

In a nationally televised speech to celebrate the 74th Liberation Day, the President also downplayed military threats posed by North Korea and showed his hope for an early restart of nuclear disarmament talks between Washington and Pyongyang.

"If Japan chooses the path of dialogue and cooperation, better late than never, we will gladly join hands," President Moon said in his speech at the Independence Hall of Korea in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, according to Cheong Wa Dae press pool reports. This was the first time in 15 years that a government-organized Liberation Day celebration was held at the hall.

"If a country weaponizes a sector where it has a comparative advantage, the order of peaceful free trade inevitably suffers. A country that accomplished growth first must not kick the ladder away while others are following in its footsteps," the President said.

Moon's speech came amid deteriorating bilateral ties between Seoul and Tokyo after the latter removed the former from its list of trusted trading partners receiving preferential benefits in export procedures of components crucial to South Korea's manufacturing sector.

The South Korean leader pledged to make the country "an unshakable nation" that can facilitate cooperation in East Asia, lead peace and prosperity and establish a peace-driven economy for unification of the Korean Peninsula.

East Asia, according to Moon, faces "a golden opportunity" to jointly progress toward prosperity cooperation with a series of Olympics ― 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games, 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics and 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

"Just as people around the world witnessed a peaceful Korean Peninsula at the PyeongChang Olympics, I look forward to seeing the Tokyo Olympics become a source of hope for friendship and cooperation," the President said.

Since its liberation 74 years ago, South Korea has become the world's sixth-largest manufacturer and exporter while its per capita income crossed the $30,000 milestone as of last year.

"However, we have yet to become an unshakable nation. That is because we still lack sufficient strength and remain divided," Moon said, listing out three objectives to achieve his national vision.

He first urged to "uphold the free trade order and facilitate equitable cooperation in East Asia."

He also the necessity of strengthening mutual cooperation between small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and conglomerates as well as between labor and management to enhance the competitiveness of domestic materials, parts and equipment industries.

"With a sense of responsibility befitting our economic strength, we will pursue broader cooperation and open up our markets even more and facilitate shared progress with neighboring countries," he said.

Secondly, Moon suggested a vision of South Korea serving as a "bridge" in the region by taking the initiative in promoting peace and prosperity.

He called South Koreans' responses toward Japan's export control "mature" and that said it stems from sentiment that does not want to see the friendly ties between the peoples of the two countries damaged.

The President referred to his signature New Northern Policy aimed at enhancing ties with ASEAN and India and connecting railways and roads across the Demilitarized Zone, saying they are also steps toward South Korea's role to bring neighboring countries closer.

"The Asian community will not be led by a single state but will instead become a community where diverse cooperation blossoms among countries on an equal footing," Moon said.

Thirdly and lastly, Moon called for a peace-driven economy, which he said will bring "our liberation through the unification of the peninsula."

Limited impact of NK's missile tests on denuke talks

During the speech, the President said the momentum for denuclearization dialogue remains "unshaken" despite North Korea's latest short-range missile tests.

Referring to planned working-level discussions between Washington and Pyongyang's nuclear negotiators as "the most critical juncture," for denuclearization, Moon said Pyongyang should not make it difficult by "spoiling the mood or putting up barriers."

"North Korea should raise the issue if there is any dissatisfaction. When we pass this hurdle, denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula will move closer and inter-Korean relations will also make significant strides. When economic cooperation accelerates and the peace economy begins, unification will beckon as an inevitability before us someday," according to him.

He called for new negotiations between the Koreas and the United States "at the earliest possible date."

Regarding Moon's speech, Leif-Eric Easley, associate professor of international studies at Seoul's Ewha Womans University, said the speech "offered a progressive telling of Korea's struggle for unity, infused with inter-Korean economic nationalism."

The professor added, "But his references to Japan highlighted the importance of economic cooperation, warned against the weaponization of trade, and left the door open for diplomacy. Survivors of wartime forced labor and sexual slavery were not mentioned; instead, the focus was on South Korea's ability to overcome historical challenges and determine its own internationally significant role."

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