Moon urges NK to drop nukes for prosperity

By Kim Rahn

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― President Moon Jae-in called for North Korea to make the “right decision” for denuclearization and take a chance for peace and prosperity, Friday.

In a speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, D.C., on the sidelines of his summit with U.S. President Donald Trump, Moon said he and Trump will not take a hostile policy toward Pyongyang, saying they do not intend to attack the North and do not want the regime’s collapse.

“But we clearly demand of North Korea that denuclearization is the only way it can secure both its security and economic development,” he said. “The door to dialogue is wide open. At the crossroads of this important decision, I urge the North to make the right choice and seize this chance for peace and prosperity. If it wants to go this way, I’m ready to walk with them on the path toward peace and prosperity for the Korean Peninsula.”

He also said Seoul and Washington would resume talks with Pyongyang under the right circumstances, adding it is to be discussed what those circumstances are and when they will come.

“For example, we may start talks if the North promises to stop nuclear and missile provocations. Or if the North releases the three American citizens it is detaining. We can’t say what the conditions clearly are right now, but Seoul and Washington should decide while watching how it all goes,” he said.

Moon said peace on the peninsula will bring new economic opportunity for the South Korea-U.S. alliance. “If we resolve the nuclear issue, it means peace on the peninsula. It will lead to inter-Korean economic cooperation, creating an economic community involving 80 million people. And the Korean economy will be expanded to China, Siberia, Russia and Europe. It will be a new growth engine for the Koreas and foster new economic cooperation between the South and the U.S.”

Regarding China’s opposition to the deployment of a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery in the South and its economic retaliatory measures toward South Korean businesses, Moon said it is South Korea exerting its sovereignty.

“It is not right for China to intervene in South Korea’s decision made by our own sovereignty,” he said. “I understand China’s concerns over the deployment. But it is improper and unfair for the country to take economic retaliatory measures, so I urge China to withdraw them.”