Moon: 'Trump is committed to helping North Korea economy'
President Moon Jae-in speaks to reporters on the presidential flight en route to Auckland, New Zealand, for a three-day state visit, Sunday (KST). Yonhap
Moon said U.S. President Donald Trump is ready to give North Korean leader Kim Jong-un “everything he hopes to get” in return for the North's complete denuclearization. Yonhap
By Kim Yoo-chul
KOREAN PRESIDENTIAL PLANE ― President Moon Jae-in said Sunday (KST) that U.S. President Donald Trump is prepared to ensure North Korea gets help in nurturing its economy if it takes concrete and verifiable steps toward complete denuclearization.
“If North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's planned visit to Seoul happens as he promised earlier, then that would be a huge step in advancing the stalled denuclearization talks. I shared this idea with Trump and he endorsed and welcome it,” Moon told reporters on the presidential flight during a flight to Auckland, New Zealand, for a three-day state visit.
“Once North Korean leader Kim's visit to Seoul materializes, then I will give him messages from Trump. For example, Trump told me he is ready to provide everything that Kim Jong-un hopes to get,” Moon said.
Moon met with Trump last week on the sidelines of their participation in this year's G20 summit held in the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires. Moon's sixth meeting with Trump was informal as the format was changed to a “pull-aside.” The two agreed to leave the ongoing economic sanctions on Pyongyang unchanged until its complete denuclearization.
“Trump also told me he likes Kim Jong-un and is hoping to keep ongoing efforts toward denuclearization, which the United States and North Korea agreed to at their June summit in Singapore, alive” Moon told reporters accompanying him on his visits to the Czech Republic, Argentina and New Zealand.
South Korea is working to get Kim to visit Seoul this year. “The decision will be Kim's alone based on his determination,” the President said, adding he and Trump agreed to approach the issue of Kim's visit to Seoul and a second summit with the U.S. president, separate.
President Moon Jae-in, right, shakes hands with New Zealand Associate Minister of Health Jenny Salesa upon his arrival at Auckland International Airport for a three-day state visit late Sunday (KST). Yonhap
“There were worries that if Kim's visit to Seoul happens before the second summit between the United States and North Korea, then that would cause some mismatch in assessing the North Korean nuclear issue, however, these were cleared up at my meeting with Trump,” the President said.
Moon didn't specify what types of concessions or sanctions relief Seoul and Washington might provide, saying: “Talks are underway between Seoul and Washington on the specifics of corresponding measures to further encourage North Korea toward denuclearization.”
Sanctions relief is quickly turning into a hot-button issue. The United States must decide whether or not to ease sanctions on North Korea as it initiated its own unilateral sanctions on Pyongyang years ago.
Moon made clear that some sanctions relief would have to come for further action by North Korea on denuclearization including any potential action at the Yongbyon nuclear plant.
“Corresponding measures don't necessarily mean an easing of economic sanctions as suspension of military exercises between the United States and South Korea, providing humanitarian assistance and expanding culture programs between the Koreas are also types of corresponding measures,” he said.
Regarding the second summit between Trump and Kim, Moon said; “I would say the main issues would be how to offer a security guarantee and end hostile relations between the two countries.”
“Negotiations are a living thing. It's a matter of judgment and the United States holds the key in the denuclearization talks. When the talks are stalled, South Korea tried to mediate and passed messages to Washington and to Pyongyang from time to time. Over the last year, we haven't been seen any provocative action from North Korea. That's really positive progress. Now, the second U.S.-North Korea summit will be happening and we are watching this closely.”