Opposition leader urges inter-Korean summit

By Kim Hyo-jin

Rep. Moon Hee-sang, interim leader of the New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD), responded positively Monday to a recent proposal made by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un for a high-level summit with South Korea.

“I hope an inter-Korean summit will be realized within this year,” said Moon during a meeting of the emergency planning committee at the National Assembly.

“The recent U.S. sanctions have strained U.S.-North relations, but this should not be an impediment to inter-Korean dialogue,” he said.

His remark came amid increasing concern that rising tensions between Washington and Pyongyang may put a damper on an inter-Korean summit.

Relations between the two Koreas have improved since the reclusive nation’s leader expressed hopes of holding a summit with the South in his New Year address. Seoul welcomed his remarks, saying that it remains open to dialogue in any form.

However, after Washington put sanctions in place Friday against Pyongyang in retaliation for its alleged hacking of Sony Pictures Entertainment, the prospects of a possible summit appears to be fading.

Pyongyang responded to the sanctions aggressively and described them as part of hostile and inflammatory U.S. policies against it. Pyongyang has denied its involvement in the attack. However, Seoul appraised the punitive measures as an “appropriate response.”

Moon also revealed hopes of improving relations with Japan.

He stated that the government needs to show flexibility in relations with Japan, considering national interests. “It is not right that a Korea-Japan summit is being postponed,” Moon said. “We need to solve historical issues with principles, but it should not be the barrier of realizing the summit.”

He added, “I expect this year that Tokyo will change its stance on the issues of sexual slavery and the compulsory conscription of Koreans into labor, marking the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II.”