Park Ji-won is a writer for The Korea Times who has been covering a wide range of topics from Korea’s culture to its politics. An avid journalism enthusiast to the core, Ji-won brings a thoughtful and unique perspective to every topic she covers. On weekends, you'll often find her contemplating life’s purpose on a yoga mat — with a cup of quality tea in hand. A native Korean speaker by birth and fluent in English through her work, she went to college in Japan and is learning Chinese and French — hoping to add Polish, Russian and Thai to the mix.
Assembly speaker's US visit raises eyebrows
National Assembly Speaker Moon Hee-sang answers reporters' questions after giving a keynote speech at the Korea Society in New York, Thursday. / Yonhap
By Park Ji-won
By Park Ji-won
A South Korean parliamentary delegation led by National Speaker Moon Hee-sang may leave the U.S. empty-handed, failing to spur cooperation from its counterpart that could help mediate between North Korea and the U.S. before the planned summit between the North's Kim Jong-un and U.S.' Donald Trump in Hanoi.
According to press releases, in his speech made at the end of the U.S. tour, Moon said Thursday (local time) that he saw positive reactions from his U.S. counterparts after they met with the South's parliamentary delegation. “I felt that the U.S. officials, who were pessimistic (of the fate of the North-U.S. summit), became more hopeful,” he said.
“I hope we will have more opportunities to boost communication with each other like this time as I believe it will lead to strengthening the alliance between Seoul and Washington.”
He also said Thursday during a speech at the Korea Society that the North and the U.S. should set a goal of final, fully verified denuclearization (FFVD) during the second summit. “They should build trust by each taking denuclearization steps and corresponding measures respectively through step-by step agreements and their implementation,” he said.
His remarks came after the South's delegation met with U.S. legislative and government officials, including U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun and U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, during their visit to the U.S. in a possible move to boost ties with its ally before the North-U.S. summit slated for Feb. 27 and 28 in Hanoi.
The delegation includes ruling Democratic Party of Korea Chairman Rep. Lee Hae-chan, main opposition Liberty Korea Party floor leader Na Kyung-won, minor opposition Party for Democracy and Peace Chairman Chung Dong-young and progressive Justice Party Chairwoman Lee Jeong-mi.
Stressing that while he is also skeptical of the North's promise of denuclearization, Moon said, “The North's sincerity can be backed by the fact that there are no missile and nuclear tests in North Korea.”
“If you think about the fact that the North are desperate, you can see the sincerity in it. As far as there are international and U.S. sanctions, which are consistent and strong, imposed on the North, Pyongyang cannot boost their economy.”
However, doubts are growing among opposition politicians that the delegation didn't accomplish much, and only confirmed the differences between the two countries.
Unlike what Moon stresses, in a closed-door meeting with South Korean lawmakers, including Moon and floor leaders of ruling and opposition parties on Tuesday, Pelosi reportedly said North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's intention is to demilitarize the South, not denuclearize the North.
She was also quoted as saying that the first U.S.-North Korea summit held in Singapore last year brought no real results.
Na told local media that Pelosi referred to the summit as a “gift” to Kim, and that North Korea needs to provide more evidence to back up its claims.
Moon and LKP members were not on the same page throughout the trip, showing mixed reactions in front of U.S. officials.
LKP lawmakers on the delegation set up some separate appointments, reportedly meeting with Wallace Gregson, former assistant secretary of defense on Asian Pacific security affairs, and Colin Powell, former Secretary of State, and expressed worries over the present situation that a declaration ending the Korean War could lead to the withdrawal of U.S. troops and the United Nations Command and thus risk the security of the Korean Peninsula.
During the meeting with Pelosi, Na echoed her views on North Korea's intention to demilitarize the South, saying it is not okay to discuss the suspension of South-U.S. joint military drills and downsizing the U.S. troops in Seoul.
Some point out that there was not enough preparation for the trip to meet with Pelosi and U.S. officials to provide them with enough materials to prepare for the second summit.
“The schedule hadn't been fixed until right before the trip to Washington, meaning that there was no time for preparation for specific business meetings.” a political source said.
“As it was part of diplomacy, Moon should have produced some political performances as they represent the country.”