Moon welcomes North Korea's PyeongChang overture
.jpg?w=728)
President Moon Jae-in waves along with participants in a New Year’s lunch at Cheong Wa Dae, Tuesday. Participants from all sectors of society hung cards with New Year wishes on a tree, with Moon wishing for peace on the Korean Peninsula and the safety of the people. / Yonhap
By Kim Rahn
President Moon Jae-in has welcomed North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s overture for his country’s participation in the PyeongChang Winter Olympics and inter-Korean talks.
He urged relevant ministries Tuesday to take swift follow-up measures to realize the North’s approach ahead of the sports event scheduled for early February.
During a Cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae, Moon said, “I believe Kim’s New Year speech that included offering to send a delegation to the PyeongChang Olympic Games and to hold government-level talks was in response to our proposal to make the games an epoch-making opportunity to improve inter-Korean relations and achieve peace. I welcome it.”
Moon’s comment came a day after Kim said that North Korea was willing to send a delegation to the sports event and was open to talks with South Korea. This was the first time for the North Korean leader to mention participation in the PyeongChang Olympics.
“I urge the unification ministry and the culture, sport and tourism ministry to come up with follow-up measures soon to recover inter-Korean dialogue and realize North Korea’s participation in the PyeongChang Olympics,” Moon said.
Noting the concerns that North Korea may seek to separate the inter-Korean talks from the nuclear issue, and attempt to weaken the South Korea-Unites States alliance, Moon said, “Improving inter-Korean relations and resolving the nuclear issue are not two separate things. I urge the foreign ministry to have close consultations with our allies and the international community so we can pursue both an improvement in relations and a resolution to the nuclear issue.”
Later in the day, the unification ministry proposed the two Koreas meet on Jan. 9 at Panmunjeom to discuss the details of the North’s participation in PyeongChang and other inter-Korean issues.
The National Security Council also held a meeting and reviewed Kim’s speech and talked about how to respond to his overture. National Security Office head Chung Eui-yong, Foreign Affairs Minister Kang Kyung-wha, Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon, Defense Minister Song Young-moo, National Intelligence Service Director Suh Hoon and presidential chief of staff Im Jong-seok participated in the meeting.
For safer, harmonious country
Meanwhile, Moon hosted a New Year lunch at the presidential office for people from all sectors of society instead of attending events organized by each as he has little time to do so while preparing for the PyeongChang Games.
At the lunch, he said the government would do its utmost to guarantee people’s security, saying a series of disasters and accidents last year showed the country still has a long way to go for a safer Korea.
“I’ll try my best so the government and the state can protect the people. I hope people will have a safe, peaceful and happy life this year.”
Moon also expressed hope for dialogue to overcome conflicts in many social sectors, such as the tripartite talks among the government, management and unions, and among rival political parties.
Leaders from the judiciary, National Assembly, the Constitutional Court and major government organizations participated in the lunch, as did ruling Democratic Party of Korea Chairwoman Choo Mi-ae and minor progressive Justice Party Chairwoman Lee Jung-mi. The heads of the three opposition parties ― Liberty Korea Party Chairman Hong Joon-pyo, People’s Party Chairman Ahn Cheol-soo and Bareun Party Chairman Yoo Seong-min ― did not attend.
Participants from the business sector included the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Park Yong-maan, Korea Employers Federation Chairman Bah Byong-won, Korea Federation of SMEs Chairman Park Sung-taek, Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Yoon Boo-keun, LG Vice Chairman Koo Bon-joon, Hyundai Motor Vice Chairman Chung Eui-sun and SK Chairman Chey Tae-won.
Eighteen citizens who symbolize “hope” and “sympathy” were also invited, including biracial model Han Hyun-min; a housewife who adopted five children; two elementary schoolchildren who were born in the Year of the Dog in 2006; a high school senior from Pohang who took the college entrance exam that was delayed due to the strong earthquake in the region; and a woman who lost her father during the Gwangju Democratic Movement in 1980 and whom Moon consoled during a ceremony commemorating the uprising in May last year.