France backs CVID on NK nukes
President Moon Jae-in toasts with French President Emmanuel Macron during a state dinner at the Elysee Palace in Paris, Tuesday. Macron's wife Brigitte is seen on Moon's right. AP-Yonhap
Summits with British and German leaders planned
By Kim Yoo-chul
PARIS _ French President Emmanuel Macron said Paris will support Seoul's efforts to achieve the complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization (CVID) of North Korea.
“France hopes North Korea will take more relevant measures to completely denuclearize. Precisely, France is waiting for a clear commitment from North Korea to demonstrate its willingness to dismantle its nuclear programs,” Macron told a news conference alongside President Moon Jae-in at the Elysee Palace, early Tuesday morning (KST), following their summit.
“Yes, CVID is a feasible diplomatic rapprochement. France has highly-appreciated South Korea's efforts to make headway in getting North Korea to publicly and unequivocally embrace the CVID concept. We are here to help you and support you,” the French leader said.
France, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), isn't directly involved in negotiations between the key stakeholders in the North's denuclearization.
The United States has reiterated its goal to achieve CVID, but to date no mention of this has been made in official documents shared or co-drafted with North Korea. However, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has verbally reaffirmed many times that he was willing to dismantle all of his regime's nuclear weapons if certain conditions are met.
President Moon made it clear that sanctions relief should be considered to further encourage the North's denuclearization.
“An easing of U.N. sanctions should be considered if we decide the North's denuclearization process has at least reached a focal point of no return. Because France is a permanent member of the UNSC, I want Paris to play an increased role in the council,” Moon remarked at the joint press conference.
Sanctions relief is quickly turning into a key issue after North Korea recently said the country was hoping to see an easing of these as part of “corresponding measures.”
The two Koreas have seen rapprochement proceed in many areas, however, economic cooperation has still not materialized as Pyongyang's failure to make significant concessions indicates that it hasn't made the moves yet that Moon and U.S. President Donald Trump want.
Moon is pushing for some sanctions relief, but among the five permanent members of the UNSC, only China and Russia have been supportive of this. France, the United Kingdom and the United States still remain opposed.
Macron didn't say whether France will use sanctions relief as a “short-term measure” to encourage Pyongyang toward further denuclearization steps.
Other than North Korean nuclear issues, Seoul and Paris agreed to expand their bilateral partnership into the military, aerospace, science, education and technology sectors.
A joint statement released after the press conference included plans for discussions aimed at helping Korean startups and industries identified as “next growth engines” by Seoul to get better access to their French counterparts, through support from their respective governments if necessary.