'No war again on peninsula'
In the top left photo, South Korean President Moon Jae-in asks German Chancellor Angela Merkel to accompany him to meet Korean residents in Germany who came to welcome the President, after their summit over dinner at the chancellor’s office building in Berlin, Thursday. In the top right photo, Moon and Merkel walk for about 100 meters toward the Koreans who were on the opposite side of a fence. In the bottom right photo, they shake hands with the Koreans. In the bottom left photo, they pose after a press conference following the summit. / Yonhap
Moon stresses dialogue to resolve nuclear issue
By Kim Rahn
President Moon Jae-in reaffirmed his stance Thursday to resolve the North Korea nuclear issue through dialogue despite Pyongyang’s recent launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), saying “there must not be a war on the Korean Peninsula ever again.”
In a meeting with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Berlin, Moon admitted the situation has become more complicated, as his government’s offers for talks have only been met with more frequent missile tests by Pyongyang.
“There is a difficult situation now to produce momentum for dialogue,” presidential spokesman Park Soo-hyun quoted Moon as saying during his visit to Germany for the G20 summit.
The President expressed concern that following the North’s continuous nuclear and missile provocations, tension would be raised and could lead to a military confrontation.
“However, there must not be a war on the Korean Peninsula ever again. It is imperative for the international community to increase sanctions and pressure on North Korea over its provocations, but the issue should be resolved through dialogue and eventually peace,” Moon said.
“We are warning Pyongyang not to cross the river of no return and are making efforts to bring the country back to negotiations.”
Moon’s remarks came two days after the North test-fired the ICBM and while the international community is moving to intensify pressure on the reclusive state. Specifically, the U.S. said it is prepared to use military force against North Korea if necessary.
Despite the situation, however, Moon is keeping his stance of addressing the issue through dialogue, and he sought Germany’s support for it.
Calling the peninsula the world’s last Cold War zone, Moon told Steinmeier that he wants advice from Germany, which achieved unification and played a key role in mediating between Iran and the U.S. in resolving Teheran’s nuclear development.
In response, Steinmeier said that through years of negotiation on the Iran nuclear issue, he learned that military risks become much higher without dialogue and negotiations.
He also said that all participants of the G20 should have a unified stance toward the North, calling on China and Russia to take stronger action, according to spokesman Park.
In a separate meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Moon reiterated his approach toward Pyongyang. “The international community’s pressure will get stronger as the level of the North’s provocations has become higher. But pressure and sanctions should be the tools to bring Pyongyang to dialogue for complete nuclear disarmament; they should not break the peace,” he was quoted as saying.
“Amid high tension like this, a single accident could bring about a dangerous situation. So both increasing pressure and managing the situation are required,” he said, implying he was against military options.
Moon, a liberal President, has stressed resuming dialogue with the North, which has been cut for almost a decade under his two conservative predecessors. He suggested a two-step approach ― first a nuclear freeze to reopen talks and second, complete disarmament.
In his earlier summit with U.S. President Donald Trump last week, the two leaders said the door to dialogue was open under the right circumstances. Moon also gained Trump’s support for Seoul to take the leading role in creating an environment for resuming inter-Korean talks and peaceful unification.