'Kim Jong-un, if he wants, can climb Mount Halla'
President Moon Jae-in goes trekking to Mount Bukak behind Cheong Wa Dae with his staff and the Cheong Wa Dae press corps, Sunday. / Yonhap
By Yi Whan-woo
President Moon Jae-in said Sunday he is willing to show North Korean leader Kim Jong-un around Mount Halla, if Kim visits South Korea within this year.
The President also said he will ensure the peace process will not fail and will work closely with both North Korea and the United States.
His remark came as he trekked Mount Bugak behind Cheong Wa Da with his staff and Cheong Wa Dae press corps.
Moon said he has always wanted to go hiking with the journalists after taking office in May 2017 but had not had a chance because of the rapidly changing political situation on the Korean Peninsula.
“There's a Korean saying, 'from Mount Paektu to Mount Halla,' and I can show Chairman Kim around Mount Halla if he wishes,” the President said of what he wants to show the North Korean leader.
Moon's comment was believed to be in response to his joint visit with Kim to Mount Paektu when he visited the North in September for their third summit.
The two mountains are the tallest in their respective countries. And Kim's possible visit to Mount Halla will be meaningful to facilitate cross-border reconciliation, according to presidential officials.
Moon, however, said, not everything has been determined regarding Kim's visit, which the South plans to do by the end of this year.
“I don't know for how long Kim will stay here. And we have to work accordingly only when his schedule is confirmed,” the President said. “I received the warmest hospitality when I visited the North, and I am concerned about where I should take him when he comes.”
While the two Koreas have been stepping up cooperation, the U.S. has been apparently displeased with the South for not keeping inter-Korean relations in lockstep with denuclearization progress.
Against this backdrop, the President said, “We should work closely with North Korea on one hand and the U.S. on the other hand.”
He added there is much work to be done for the ongoing peace process not to fail.
The President said he should pay attention to the economy as much as he does to diplomacy.
His signature “income-led economic growth” policy led to criticism over the hike in minimum wage and financial burden on small- and medium-sized enterprises.
He still vowed to pursue his policy, claiming it is important to innovate the economy and implement fair business practices.
The President said support from the National Assembly will be key for economic reform efforts, including approval of the 2018 state budget.
Mount Bukak was formerly not open to the public for security reasons. And Moon has sought to fully open it, since taking office.
Meanwhile, Moon plans to host a three-way meeting among the ruling and opposition parties and Cabinet members on Nov. 5.
A possible topic to be discussed at the meeting is the controversial ratification of the Pyongyang Declaration jointly announced by Moon and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during their summit in September as well as the separate inter-Korean military agreement reached at the summit.
The Ministry of Government Legislation said the agreements do not need a parliamentary approval. But the ratification, which was made during a Cabinet meeting hosted by Moon, Oct. 23, triggered a backlash from main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP).
Political sources say the LKP may not cooperate with the Moon government and not help approve the 2018 state budget.