Moon to step up peace diplomacy

By Kim Yoo-chul

President Moon Jae-in will seek wider support for inter-Korean agreements to defuse tension and promote peace at upcoming ASEAN and APEC meetings, Cheong Wa Dae said Monday.

In a press release, the presidential office said Moon will visit Singapore for four days from Nov. 13 to participate in summits with ASEAN as well as ASEAN+3, which includes South Korea, China and Japan.

President Moon will then fly to Papua New Guinea to take part in the APEC forum for two days.

It's still unknown whether the President will directly pitch his “sanctions-easing” message during his planned summits with Asian leaders after a meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and North Korea's Kim Yong-chol was delayed. Washington said the U.S. remains focused on fulfilling the commitments agreed to by President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at the Singapore summit in June.

Cheong Wa Dae said Moon will hold a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison during the ASEAN and APEC sessions. The presidential office said talks are underway for Moon's in-person meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the sessions. A face-to-face meeting with U.S. Vice President Mike Pence has been confirmed.

“At meetings with Pence and Xi, President Moon plans to share the latest updates and progress on North Korea's denuclearization-related issues and ask them to help South Korea's efforts aimed at keeping the momentum of denuclearization talks alive without a further impasse,” Cheong Wa Dae said.

President Moon has played something of a surrogate role for North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on the international diplomatic stage, but Moon's “sanctions-easing” message toward North Korea ― after the North has taken measures like dismantling its nuclear test site ― apparently fell flat during the President's recent visit to European capitals.

Cheong Wa Dae said President Moon intends to suggest strengthening strategic talks on all levels with ASEAN members, as South Korea is moving ahead with its “New Economic Roadmap on the Korean Peninsula” as part of its New Southern Policy.

“The roadmap will include detailed plans on how to boost trade volume between South Korea and ASEAN members,” Cheong Wa Dae said.

Under the New Southern Policy, South Korea is expanding economic cooperation with ASEAN members on multiple fronts.