By Kim Yoo-chul
President Moon Jae-in plans to use the upcoming APEC summit as a platform to win support for loosening sanctions on North Korea, a senior Cheong Wa Dae official said, Tuesday.
“President Moon is hoping leaders in the Asia-Pacific and Southeast Asia region will back his approach emphasizing dialogue and greater engagement, as sanctions relief could speed up North Korea's denuclearization,” the official added.
President Moon used his nine-day tour of European capitals including Paris, Rome, Vatican City, Brussels and Copenhagen to urge greater engagement with North Korea.
But his attempts to rally European support for easing sanctions on the North appeared to fall flat after French President Emmanuel Macron and British Minister Theresa May responded coolly to Moon's “sanctions easing” message. They said sanctions will remain in place until North Korea abandons its nuclear and missile programs entirely.
Also, no joint statements had been made between South Korea and EU members due to “differing thinking” over the North Korean nuclear issue.
The official from the presidential office said Moon will hold summits with APEC members next month to get their consent to move ahead with his new agenda.
Cheong Wa Dae said it was hoping North Korean leader Kim Jong-un would visit South Korea sometime in December and added there was no friction regarding South Korea's engagement-centric assessment among its allies including the United States.
President Moon has played something of a surrogate role for Kim Jong-un on the international diplomatic stage.