Moon optimistic about denuclearization deal

President Moon Jae-in speaks during a meeting with media CEOs at Cheong Wa Dae, Thursday. / Yonhap

President backs peace treaty with North Korea

By Kim Rahn

President Moon Jae-in said Thursday he was optimistic about signing a denuclearization deal with North Korea and establishing peace by formally ending the Korean War.

He said it may not be so difficult for the two Koreas and the United States to reach an agreement on these, implying the three nations were already nearing an agreement on the issues.

A hotline between Moon and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will be set up today and working-level staffers will make a test call, according to Cheong Wa Dae. When the two leaders will have their first phone conversation has not been decided on yet.

The hotline connects the presidential office in the South and the State Affairs Commission in the North, with Kim being chairman of the commission.

"The ultimate goal of the denuclearization and peace deals is the co-prosperity of the two Koreas," Moon said during a meeting with CEOs of media outlets at Cheong Wa Dae.

This came a day after the presidential office confirmed the two Koreas and the U.S. would discuss signing a peace treaty to formally end the 1950-53 Korean War during next week's inter-Korean summit, and the following summit between Washington and Pyongyang. The two Koreas technically remain at war as the conflict ended in an armistice.

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Moon said the North is committed to completely removing its nuclear weapons, without unacceptable conditions such as the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the peninsula, only demanding a guarantee of safety for its regime.

"That's why I don't think there will be major difficulty for Seoul, Pyongyang and Washington to make general agreements in principle on denuclearizing the North as well as on establishing peace, normalizing Pyongyang-Washington relations and seeking international support for the North's economic development if the country is denuclearized," he said.

President Moon Jae-in shakes hands with The Korea Times President and Publisher Lee Byeong-eon in a meeting with media CEOs at Cheong Wa Dae, Thursday. / Korea Times photo by Koh Young-gwon

Heads of 48 newspaper and broadcasting companies, including The Korea Times President and Publisher Lee Byeong-eon, took part in the meeting and provided advice on Korean Peninsula issues.

President Moon said, however, the difficult parts were about "how" to achieve the goal, adding "audacious imagination and creative solutions" were required to make the two summits successful.

"We can't repeat the past; we have to find new ways and all involved parties have to agree on them. Moreover, the method is not what the two Koreas alone can decide, but requires agreement between the North and the United States."

He said what the South can do is help the North and the U.S. narrow the gap between them and suggest practical ways, which both sides can accept.

The President said the goal of the summits and the talks is the co-prosperity of the two Koreas.

"What we seek through denuclearization and peace is co-prosperity. And it requires Pyongyang's development of relations with Washington and Tokyo as well as support from China. Inter-Korean cooperation alone cannot help North Korea's economic development, and the international community's participation is a must."

He said the summits will open a new era, but will be only the beginning and may not solve everything at once, along with many limitations including international sanctions against the North.

"So we have to try to make the inter-Korean summit a good start for a good outcome in the Washington-Pyongyang summit, and to continue inter-Korean dialogue," Moon said.

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