Jeju Forum 2017 Moon vows to take initiative on N. Korea
Participants at the Jeju Forum take photos of President Moon Jae-in delivering a video message during the opening ceremony at the International Convention Center in Seogwipo, Jeju Island, Thursday. / Yonhap
By Yi Whan-woo
SEOGWIPO, Jeju Island — South Korea will take the initiative in security issues on the Korean Peninsula, President Moon Jae-in said Thursday.
Speaking through a video link at the opening ceremony of the 12th Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity, Moon also said he can help mend North Korea’s relations with both South Korea and the U.S. through a two-track strategy of dialogue and pressure on Pyongyang.
“We will take the lead in dealing with Korean Peninsula issues without relying on the role of other countries,” he said.
“In cooperation with relevant countries, including the U.S. and China, we will bring North Korea out to dialogue through persuasion and pressure and resolve the North Korean nuclear issue as well as improve inter-Korean relations and U.S.-North Korea relations.”
Moon delivered the message to the forum that was initiated in 2001 during the progressive President Kim Dae-jung’s term. Moon is expected to inherit the inter-Korean policies of Kim and his successor Roh Moo-hyun.
Moon, also a former human rights lawyer, said he was especially interested in the two sessions on human rights at the Jeju Forum.
The session, “Why They Suffer: A Reality Report on North Korea’s Human Rights,” took place Thursday, attracting international experts on Pyongyang’s human rights abuses.
The other session, “The Jeju April 3 Incident, Human Rights and Peace of Women and Minorities in East Asia,” will be held Friday. It will deal with the South Korean government-led massacre of civilians who were branded as “communist rebels” on Jeju Island.
“Now Jeju Island is healing the remaining vestiges of confrontation and conflict, and opening a new age of peace and coexistence,” he said. “This is the spirit of the Jeju Forum — seeking peace and common prosperity in Northeast Asia.”
Won Hee-ryong, chairman of the Organizing Committee and governor of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, and former U.S. Vice President Al Gore delivered congratulatory speeches afterwards.
Meanwhile, Moon Chung-in, the presidential advisor on unification, foreign and security affairs led a closed-door session later Thursday.
Among the 75 sessions, many took place on Wednesday.
The three-day forum will run until Friday.