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S. Korea’s Moon urges ‘bold decision’ from Trump and Kim
SEOUL, Sept 11, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – South Korean President Moon Jae-in called
for a “bold decision” by US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader
Kim Jong Un on denuclearisation Tuesday as the White House said it was
planning another summit with Pyongyang.
“The complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula is an issue that
should fundamentally be resolved between the US and North Korea through
negotiation,” Moon told a cabinet meeting.
“But until talks and communication between the North and the US become
more active, we cannot but work to mediate between them,” he said, adding:
“President Trump and Chairman Kim have asked that I play this role.”
His comments came after the White House said it was “in the process of
coordinating” another summit between Trump and Kim, after Pyongyang proposed
a second meeting in a letter delivered to Trump.
Moon, who brokered June’s historic Singapore summit between Trump and Kim,
will fly to Pyongyang next week for his third meeting with the North Korean
leader this year.
“A big vision and a bold decision between the leaders of North Korea and
the US are needed again in order to advance to a higher level in discarding
Pyongyang’s existing nuclear weapons,” Moon said. In Singapore, Trump and Kim
signed a vaguely-worded agreement on denuclearisation, which was touted by
the US leader as a breakthrough deal to end the North’s nuclear programme.
Little progress has been made since then, prompting Trump to abruptly
cancel Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s planned trip to Pyongyang late last
month.
But the new letter showed signs that the discussions remain alive despite
weeks of apparent deadlock.
North Korea also refrained from displaying its intercontinental missiles
in a massive parade celebrating the country’s 70th birthday on Sunday, which
Trump called “a big and very positive statement”.
BSS/AFP/MSY/1031 hrs