By Kim Rahn
President Moon Jae-in has been briefed on the trips made by his special envoys who have returned home after relaying his messages to leaders of three major countries and discussing urgent diplomatic and bilateral issues.
Moon had a meeting at Cheong Wa Dae Wednesday with the envoys: Hong Seok-hyun, who went to the United States, former Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan who traveled to China, and Rep. Moon Hee-sang of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) who visited Japan.
Two other envoys ― DPK Rep. Song Young-gil in Russia and Sogang University professor Cho Yoon-je in the European Union and Germany ― have not yet returned.
Expressing gratitude for their work, the President said he would work to develop what was discussed during their visits.
“We have had diplomatic vacuum for long following the political chaos (the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye), and it seems your visits to the countries have filled up the vacuum at a stroke,” Moon said.
“I think our messages about key issues, such as the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery and comfort women, have been properly heard.”
Hong, who returned to Korea Sunday after meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump and other high-profile officials there, said he saw the chance for the two countries to produce a good result on the North Korea nuclear issue.
“The U.S. puts the issue on top of its diplomatic lists, so this can be a good opportunity to resolve the issue,” Hong said.
Hong said earlier during his visit that Trump expressed his support for engagement with North Korea in resolving the nuclear issue.
He also said he conveyed South Korea’s stance that it would seek the National Assembly’s ratification for the deployment of a U.S. THAAD battery here. The installation has faced controversy since the Park government pushed ahead with it despite protests.
Another issue he discussed with U.S. officials was a presidential summit tentatively slated for the end of June. Details on when to hold it and what to discuss are under discussion among working-level officials, according to Hong.
During his visit to the U.S., Hong was named one of Moon’s special advisers for unification, foreign affairs and national security.
Lee met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his visit to Beijing from May 18 to 21, delivering Moon’s hope for a summit as soon as possible.
The two countries have been estranged following the THAAD deployment with China taking economic retaliation against Korean companies operating there.
Lee said he and Chinese officials talked about the THAAD issue seriously. Sources say although Lee sought China’s understanding about the battery which is aimed at deterring North Korean missile attacks, Chinese officials showed a rather stern attitude, indicating the relationship between the two countries may not improve unless South Korea cancels the deployment.
Rep. Moon, who had a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, said Abe expressed hopes that the two countries form future-oriented relationship. “But we confirmed the two nations have different views on some issues,” the lawmaker said.
The “issues” include the disputed 2015 deal between the two countries over Japan’s wartime sexual enslavement of Korean women.
The agreement, also made under the Park administration, has been criticized for failing to reflect the victims’ opinions, and only attempting to close the issue hastily.
The envoy delivered South Koreans’ negative sentiment toward the agreement, and Abe and other Japanese officials said they understood such sentiment, according to the envoy, who added he and the officials did not discuss renegotiating or scrapping the agreement.