Memo to Moon

By John Burton

Dear President Moon:

Your upcoming trip to Washington in late June to meet U.S. President Donald Trump will probably be your single most important event to date in your young administration. The visit could determine the future of U.S.-ROK security alliance over the next several years at a time of peril on the Korean peninsula.

The U.S. media has been playing up the possibility of a volatile clash between you and Trump because of your more conciliatory approach toward North Korea compared to the Trump administration’s preference for tougher sanctions.

Wide swathes of the foreign policy establishment in Washington distrust you when U.S. attitudes toward North Korea are hardening. Many put you in the “appeasement” category along with your old boss, former President Roh Moo-hyun, who is not fondly remembered in Washington. Some jokingly refer to your North Korean policy as “moonshine” instead of “sunshine,” which is not flattering since it is a colloquial expression for foolish talk or ideas.

As a result, you could face an uphill battle in winning the trust of the Trump administration and American public. You do not have the advantage of representing a major power like China and Japan, whose leaders were invited by Trump to his Mar-a-logo resort for cozy togethers.

What should you do? The general consensus is that Trump puts enormous importance on personal chemistry and so you should be prepared to flatter him, no matter how distasteful that is to your supporters at home. It’s also important to bring him a nice gift, preferably something in gold, perhaps a small reproduction of a Silla dynasty statueto drive home the point that Korea has never been part of China and has been independent for thousands of years.

In addition, don’t aggressively push your agenda. Instead let Trump take the lead in what should be discussed, but emphasize areas of common interest. Both of you, for example, share the goal of engagement with North Korea, although differ on what paths should be taken to achieve that outcome. And highlight the fact that the security alliance with the U.S. serves as the bedrock for Korean democracy.

If the KORUS trade agreement is brought up, respond by saying that Korean manufacturing investment in the U.S. is growing. Bring along a business delegation to underscore that point. Try to arrange for them to meet with U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, who invested in Korea after the 1997 financial crisis and who was awarded the Order of Industrial Service Merit by President Kim Dae-jung in 1999.

You have the advantage of deploying Korea’s“soft power” and your own compelling personal story. Make a speech at the Korean War Veterans Memorial and express your gratitude that your parents were able to flee North Korea by being evacuated on a U.S. warship at the port of Hamhung in late 1950. Mention your service in the Korean elite special forces and that you were part of the team that successfully chopped down the poplar tree that was at the center of the infamous DMZ ax murder incident in 1976.

To prepare for all future eventualities in the U.S. political landscape, you might also use the event as an opportunity to reach out to the office of Vice President Mike Pence, who recently visited Korea but before you were elected. Invite his national security advisor, retired Colonel Andrea Thompson, and her deputy, Joan O’Hara, along with their former boss at the House Homeland Security Committee, Rep. Michael McCaul.

One of Seoul’s sister cities is Washington, D.C. It may be a good idea to bring along Seoul Mayor Park Won Soon to meet DC Mayor Muriel Bowser and share ideas on urban planning. This would also provide an opportunity to promote the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in a sports-mad town since Seoulwill serve as the international gateway to the event.

You will get plenty of U.S. media coverage on your visit. North Korea continues to be a hot story despite the focus of attention on Russia-gate. You will be photographed meeting Trump in the Oval Office and holding a joint press conference after the meeting.

But don’t neglect the local Washington media, which can provide coverage for non-White House events that you attend but which may be ignored by the national media. Washington has a large Korean community. For example, WRC, the local affiliate of the NBC network, has two Korea-affiliated anchors, Eun Yang and Angie Goff, who were born in Seoul. They recently hosted a program that highlighted Korean-American activities in the DC area, so they may be interested in your visit.

I hope you find some of these suggestions useful and I look forward to your successful visit to the U.S.

John Burton, a former Korea correspondent for the Financial Times, is now a Washington,. D.C.-based journalist and consultant. He can be reached at johnburtonft@yahoo.com.