President Moon dismisses Kim Jong-un health rumors with 'trust' message

East Sea Line Rail Connection as a 'Primer' for Improving Inter-Korean Relations... "We Cannot Just Wait for Conditions to Improve"

[Asia Economy reporters Ryu Jeong-min and Kim Dong-pyo] President Moon Jae-in's message of 'trust' amid persistent rumors about North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un's 'health issues' is a noteworthy point. It can be interpreted as effectively dismissing the health rumors.

On the 27th, at the Blue House senior secretaries and advisors meeting, President Moon stated, "Based on the trust between Kim Jong-un and me and our firm will for peace, we will open the future of a peace economy." If the rumors about Kim Jong-un's personal safety were true, such a message would be unlikely. This message reflects the Blue House's judgment that there are no issues with Kim Jong-un's condition.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Ministry of Unification also explained on the 28th in a briefing to the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, "North Korean media has continuously reported on Kim Jong-un's work following the Party Political Bureau meeting, suggesting normal state affairs are being conducted."

Considering domestic and international circumstances and practical conditions, it seems unlikely that the Blue House will immediately propose dialogue to Kim Jong-un. However, since President Moon has delivered a specific message, the Blue House's stance is to observe North Korea's response.

What President Moon emphasized in his April 27th message marking the 2nd anniversary of the Panmunjom Declaration is the will to act for improving inter-Korean relations. He said, "We cannot just wait indefinitely for conditions to improve." He diagnosed that the reason the Panmunjom Declaration has not progressed quickly is not due to a lack of will on our part but because of international constraints.

In particular, President Moon's message focuses more on the practical will of "what we will do" rather than making proposals to the North. The project drawing attention as a so-called 'priming water' for improving inter-Korean relations is the connection of the Donghae Bukbu Line, linking Jejin Station in Goseong County to Gangneung in Gangwon Province.

President Moon said, "I hope we can realize together the dream of connecting the Donghae Line and Gyeongui Line agreed upon by the South and North Korean leaders." This was a message regarding the commemorative ceremony for the Donghae Bukbu Line promotion held on the 27th at Jejin Station by Minister of Unification Kim Yeon-chul and Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Kim Hyun-mi.

If the groundbreaking of the Donghae Bukbu Line takes place by the end of next year as the government expects, it is likely to become a turning point in improving inter-Korean relations. The Ministry of Unification reported to the National Assembly that it plans to prioritize projects that can be independently carried out, such as connecting the Donghae Bukbu Line railway, conducting a survey of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), and Panmunjom tours.