Moon, Trump to discuss N. Korea over telephone this week

By Lee Min-hyung

President Moon Jae-in

President Moon Jae-in is likely to have a telephone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump sometime this week to exchange views on the upcoming Washington-Pyongyang summit, according to Cheong Wa Dae.

The presidential house said the planned dialogue between Moon and Trump will take place before the summit, scheduled for two days from Feb. 27, but did not pinpoint the exact date.

South Korea has so far played a mediating role in the ongoing denuclearization talks between the U.S. and North Korea.

President Moon will deliver his firm determination to support Trump, with a view to making the second Washington-Pyongyang summit more successful than the previous one.

Last year, President Moon held three summits with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. In every summit, Moon served as a “peacekeeper” by communicating Kim's determination for denuclearization to Trump, and vice versa.

Cheong Wa Dae also did not leave out the possibility that President Moon and Trump may hold a telephone talk early next week.

“Leaders of the two Koreas and the U.S. unwaveringly walk on the (same) path (for peace), as they have a strong sense of belief in the direction,” President Moon said last week. “I also want to express my respect to the two leaders from Washington and Pyongyang who make unprecedented diplomatic efforts to end their seven decades of distrust.”