[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] The interview given by President Moon Jae-in to the American magazine Time, conducted with about 10 months left in his term, did not add any new information beyond what was already known. Contextually, it conveyed North Korean Workers' Party General Secretary Kim Jong-un's 'denuclearization and willingness to engage in dialogue' to the West, expressing hope that U.S. President Joe Biden would take a more active role in North Korea-U.S. talks.
One notable remark in this regard was about Kim General Secretary's 'sad voice.' President Moon stated, "General Secretary Kim told me in a sad voice that he wants to leave a better future for his children and does not want them to bear the burden of nuclear weapons." This is interpreted as a 'message' keeping in mind President Biden's comment that "we can only meet if Kim General Secretary has the will for denuclearization."
President Moon also put effort into explaining that Kim General Secretary is a 'trustworthy' figure in the interview. He evaluated Kim as "a very honest and passionate person, with strong decisiveness, who is well aware of what is happening around the globe." This also sounded like a statement aimed at promoting South Korea-North Korea-U.S. dialogue.
Furthermore, President Moon left open the possibility of another inter-Korean summit during his term. When Time cited a defector's view that "there is no possibility of an inter-Korean summit during the term," President Moon said, "I cannot agree," mentioning that continuous dialogue and communication with General Secretary Kim have led to mutual trust. He also predicted that vaccine diplomacy could bring North Korea to the dialogue table.
Meanwhile, considering the controversy over remarks that seemed to criticize former U.S. President Donald Trump in a previous American media interview, Time reported that President Moon showed restraint in criticizing him in this interview. Regarding President Biden's North Korea policy, President Moon evaluated that "President Biden clearly supports inter-Korean dialogue, inclusion, and cooperation," and Time also emphasized that the joint statement after the recent South Korea-U.S. summit included the expression "to closely coordinate on North Korea policy."
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