Moon Jung-in: "Moon Jae-in-Kim Jong-un Should Have a One-Point Meeting... Special Envoy Card Won't Work"

"North Korea-US Summit Unlikely to Be Held Within This Year"
"Inter-Korean Leaders' One-Point Meeting at Panmunjom Possible"
"Opportunity Should Be Created Through Suspension of ROK-US Joint Military Exercises"

Moon Jung-in, Special Advisor to the President on Unification, Diplomacy, and Security

Moon Jeong-in, Special Advisor to the President for Unification, Foreign Affairs, and Security, assessed on the 1st that the possibility of a North Korea?U.S. summit within this year is not high, but he argued that a one-point inter-Korean summit is possible. Special Advisor Moon said that North Korea is reacting sensitively to the August South Korea-U.S. military exercises and that this should be used to create momentum for inter-Korean dialogue.

On the morning of the same day, at a forum held at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, hosted by the Korea Press Foundation, Special Advisor Moon said, "Regardless of the scale and nature of the (South Korea-U.S. joint) exercises, North Korea will respond critically."

Since the August joint exercises are an intermediate step toward the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON), Special Advisor Moon explained that "North Korea should also understand in the mid-to-long term that this is a process aimed at peace."

This statement is interpreted as a reference to the military authorities’ plan to verify the Full Operational Capability (FOC) of the future Combined Forces Command during this joint exercise, aiming for the OPCON transfer in the last year of the Moon Jae-in administration in 2022, implying the need to persuade North Korea about the situation where South Korea takes over OPCON.

Former Minister of Unification Lee Jong-seok also pointed out at the forum that the August South Korea-U.S. joint exercises are a significant variable in inter-Korean relations and the North Korean nuclear issue.

Former Minister Lee said, "Suspending the South Korea-U.S. joint exercises is the only way to advance the North Korean nuclear issue while North Korea has halted nuclear tests and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test launches," urging the Ministry of National Defense to actively suspend the exercises.

He predicted, "If abandoning North Korea’s nuclear weapons is an urgent task, then all efforts should be focused there," adding, "Issues such as conducting unilateral command exercises can be handled technically."

Special Advisor Moon viewed the possibility of a North Korea?U.S. summit as low. He explained, "For a North Korea?U.S. summit to happen, President Trump must have a clear card that can satisfy American citizens and not provoke opposition from the Democratic Party," adding, "Even if U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun makes contact, it is at a working level, and there remain doubts about whether substantial discussions can take place."

Special Advisor Moon emphasized the need to pay attention to the 'China variable' in North Korea?U.S. talks, citing a recent column by Harry Kazianis, Korea director at the U.S. Center for the National Interest, published in Fox News. In the context of escalating U.S.-China tensions, if North Korea?U.S. progress is made, President Trump could use North Korea as leverage against China.

He introduced, "The basic argument of the column is that Trump is in a disadvantageous position in the election and has no diplomatic achievements, but if he improves relations with North Korea before the election and creates a diplomatic breakthrough, wouldn’t that put the U.S. in a much more advantageous position in dealing with China?" Special Advisor Moon added, "Because of the China variable, President Trump sees meeting Chairman Kim as helpful for creating a breakthrough in North Korea?U.S. relations and as beneficial for his election strategy, and a positive atmosphere regarding this idea is sensed within the White House and the Republican Party."

Special Advisor Moon also emphasized an independent inter-Korean relationship that is not subordinate to North Korea?U.S. relations. He said, "A breakthrough in inter-Korean relations can also be made within the South Korea-U.S. relationship," adding, "(Conflicts with the U.S.) must be endured, accepted, and persuaded." He stressed, "I believe no government has moved the White House as much as the Moon Jae-in administration. If there is strategic will, intelligence, and determination, persuading the U.S. is also possible."