Do Je-hae edits news stories as part of the AI team.
Friendly first lady shines on diplomatic stage
First lady Kim Jung-sook, right, and Japanese first lady Akie Abe hold hands during a UN event at the New York Public Library, Wednesday (KST). Yonhap
By Do Je-hae
By Do Je-hae
First lady Kim Jung-sook showed off her brilliant people skills once again during an encounter with Japanese first lady Akie Abe during the United Nations General Assembly this week.
The first ladies of the two neighboring countries hugged and held hands when they met Wednesday (KST) at the New York Public Library after a conference hosted by the United Nations Children's Fund and the World Health Organization, where Kim delivered a speech. It was the first time for a Korean first lady to speak at an U.N. event since a speech was given in 2002 by the late former first lady Lee Hee-ho.
It is not unusual for the Korean first lady to be captured in delightful exchanges with people she meets, but this time it left a deep impression on the international community amid the icy relations between the two countries with the escalating bilateral row over trade, history and national security.
Their warm greetings were particularly surprising when considering the long standoff the leaders of the two countries who have not held a bilateral summit for more than a year. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has refused to sit down with President Moon Jae-in and has been relentless in claiming that Korea has breached international law following the 2018 Supreme Court ruling on a wartime conflict. The leaders did not hold a bilateral meeting this week on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly.
Kim's presence has been a great diplomatic asset to President Moon. She has been in the media spotlight for her unassuming demeanor unlike her predecessors. The easy-going first lady has often made a mark with her active exchanges with her counterparts from other countries, such as Brigitte Macron, first lady of France, during overseas tours. A former classical singer, Kim has also been seen having friendly exchanges with North Korean first lady Ri Sol-ju, who is a former singer as well. President Trump also praised Kim for her “tremendous spirit and vitality” during a visit to Korea in July for a summit with Moon.
The Korean first lady was in New York to accompany President Moon Jae-in on his visit to attend the U.N. General Assembly.