South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Tuesday that he could push for exemptions of U.N. sanctions placed on North Korea as a way to achieve an expansion of inter-Korean ties that he says would help restart nuclear negotiations between Pyongyang and Washington.
Moon has previously made similar comments, despite outside worries that any lifting of sanctions would weaken U.S.-led efforts to eliminate North Korea’s nuclear arsenal. His latest overture came about two weeks after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un threatened to bolster his nuclear deterrent in the face of what he called “gangster-like" U.S. pressure and sanctions.
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South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Tuesday that he could push for exemptions of U.N. sanctions placed on North Korea as a way to achieve an expansion of inter-Korean ties that he says would help restart nuclear negotiations between Pyongyang and Washington.
“If exceptions from U.N. sanctions are necessary for South-North cooperation, I think we can make efforts for that,” Moon said. “I think there is a heightened need for South and North Korea to dial up their cooperation a little bit and promote North Korean-U.S. talks, rather than just looking at North Korea-U.S. talks.”
Inter-Korean relations have suffered big setbacks since the breakdown of Kim’s second summit with President Donald Trump in February 2019 in Vietnam. That summit collapsed because Trump rejected Kim’s demands for broad sanctions relief in return for dismantling his main nuclear complex, a limited disarmament step.
During a key ruling party meeting late last month, Kim expressed deep frustration over the deadlocked diplomacy and pledged to bolster his nuclear arsenal. He also said he would unveil a new “strategic weapon” soon and no longer be bound by a weapons test moratorium that he placed at the start of his diplomacy with Trump.
TV screens show the live broadcast of South Korean President Moon Jae-in's New Year press conference at the Yongsan Electronic store in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020. Moon said Tuesday he could push for exemptions of U.N. sanctions placed on North Korea as a way to promote an expansion of inter-Korean ties that he says would help restart nuclear negotiations between Pyongyang and Washington. (AP PhotoAhn Young-joon)
People watch a TV screen showing the live broadcast of South Korean President Moon Jae-in's New Year's press conference at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020. (AP PhotoLee Jin-man)
Moon said at a New Year’s news conference Tuesday that improved inter-Korean cooperation would spur progress in stalemated nuclear diplomacy between North Korea and the U.S. and help gather international support for sanctions exemptions.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in speaks during his New Year press conference at the presidential Blue House in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020. (Kim Hong-JiPool Photo via AP)
“If exceptions from U.N. sanctions are necessary for South-North cooperation, I think we can make efforts for that,” Moon said. “I think there is a heightened need for South and North Korea to dial up their cooperation a little bit and promote North Korean-U.S. talks, rather than just looking at North Korea-U.S. talks.”
Moon acknowledged that efforts to boost inter-Korean ties would have limits because of the U.N. sanctions. But he said exchanges in sports and South Korean tours to North Korea are among the areas where the two Koreas can cooperate without violating the U.N. sanctions.
It was unclear how North Korea would respond to Moon’s comments. The North recently has ignored his calls for dialogue and pressed South Korea not to meddle in negotiations with the United States.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in gestures during his New Year press conference at the presidential Blue House in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020. (Kim Hong-JiPool Photo via AP)
Inter-Korean relations have suffered big setbacks since the breakdown of Kim’s second summit with President Donald Trump in February 2019 in Vietnam. That summit collapsed because Trump rejected Kim’s demands for broad sanctions relief in return for dismantling his main nuclear complex, a limited disarmament step.
The development was a blow to Moon, a liberal who espouses greater reconciliation with North Korea. He shuttled between Kim and Trump in 2018, facilitating the early parts of U.S.-North Korean diplomacy such as the first Trump-Kim summit in Singapore in 2018
Some experts say North Korea is angry with the South because it believes Moon’s push led it to waste time and make too many concessions in negotiations with the U.S.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in smiles as reporters raise their hands for questions during his New Year press conference at the presidential Blue House in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020. (Kim Hong-JiPool Photo via AP)
During a key ruling party meeting late last month, Kim expressed deep frustration over the deadlocked diplomacy and pledged to bolster his nuclear arsenal. He also said he would unveil a new “strategic weapon” soon and no longer be bound by a weapons test moratorium that he placed at the start of his diplomacy with Trump.
People watch a TV screen showing the live broadcast of South Korean President Moon Jae-in's New Year's press conference at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020. (AP PhotoLee Jin-man)
TV screens show the live broadcast of South Korean President Moon Jae-in's New Year press conference at the Yongsan Electronic store in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020. Moon said Tuesday he could push for exemptions of U.N. sanctions placed on North Korea as a way to promote an expansion of inter-Korean ties that he says would help restart nuclear negotiations between Pyongyang and Washington. (AP PhotoAhn Young-joon)
People watch a TV screen showing the live broadcast of South Korean President Moon Jae-in's New Year's press conference at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020. (AP PhotoLee Jin-man)