US Should Cooperate with China on North Korea and Climate Change... Must Sit Down with North Korea Soon

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] President Moon Jae-in urged the United States to "cooperate with China on global issues including North Korea and climate change." He criticized former President Trump’s efforts regarding North Korea, saying they "only made noise but did not achieve complete success."

The New York Times reported on the 21st that in an interview with the New York Times on the 16th, President Moon stated, "If relations between superpowers deteriorate, it could undermine all negotiations for denuclearization."

In the interview, President Moon emphasized cooperation with China, saying, "If conflicts between the U.S. and China escalate, North Korea might try to exploit or take advantage of such conflicts."

The New York Times also reported that President Moon expressed pride in leading the 2018 Singapore Agreement between the North Korean and U.S. leaders but acknowledged that efforts to achieve denuclearization and peace on the Korean Peninsula have begun to falter. Regarding this, President Moon evaluated Trump’s efforts toward North Korea as "only making noise but not achieving complete success."

He also urged President Biden to engage in dialogue with North Korea, stating, "Denuclearization is a matter of our country's survival," and expressed his opinion that "the most important starting point to resolve the issue is for North Korea and the U.S. to sit down together as soon as possible."