'Kim Jong-un Gift' Puppy Pungsan Dog Revealed by Moon... Indirect 'Dialogue' Message to North Korea?

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Amid the continued stalemate in inter-Korean dialogue, President Moon Jae-in revealed the names of the Pungsan dog puppies gifted by North Korean General Secretary Kim Jong-un through social networking services (SNS). This appears to be an indirect message urging the North to "come to the dialogue table."

On the evening of the 1st, President Moon stated via SNS, "The seven Pungsan dog puppies born three months ago between 'Maru' and 'Gomi' have all grown strong," and announced that the seven puppies were named 'Areum', 'Daun', 'Gangsan', 'Bom', 'Yeoreum', 'Gaeul', and 'Gyeoul' (meaning 'Beauty', 'Down', 'Mountain River', 'Spring', 'Summer', 'Autumn', and 'Winter').

Gomi is the female among the pair of Pungsan dogs gifted by General Secretary Kim in 2018, and Maru was brought by President Moon from his Yangsan residence. President Moon had previously shared news in July about the seven Pungsan puppies born between Maru and Gomi, and it seems the names were chosen after considering various opinions.

President Moon also stated, "If there are local governments interested this time, I will offer two puppies each." Previously, in 2019, the Blue House distributed six puppies born to Gomi to four local governments including Seoul, Incheon, Daejeon, and Gwangju.

Despite difficulties in public livelihood due to COVID-19 and vaccine supply shortages, and with a medical union strike looming, President Moon’s decision to post the names of the Pungsan puppies on SNS is interpreted as a subtle message to North Korea, using the Pungsan dogs gifted by General Secretary Kim as a medium for dialogue.

The Blue House currently perceives the inter-Korean situation as "navigating through reefs." A Blue House official stated, "Restoring the military communication line is just like placing a stepping stone, and we cautiously think that both the South and the North are managing the situation well as they pass through one of the reefs that had been raised."

Accordingly, it seems they aim to safely navigate past the "reefs" through dialogue and to push for the reactivation of the peace process on the Korean Peninsula based on this. Moreover, June 17 marks the 30th anniversary of the simultaneous UN membership of the South and North, which holds great significance for the Moon administration. For both Koreas to speak with one voice at this time, improving relations is essential. A Blue House official said, "We always hope that on such international diplomatic stages (the UN), South and North Korea can simultaneously send messages related to peace on the Korean Peninsula."

Although North Korea restored the communication line at the end of July, it has unilaterally refused to engage in dialogue citing the joint South Korea-US military exercises and has maintained a stance of 'no response' to date. Even as Sung Kim, the US Special Representative for North Korea, and Noh Kyu-duk, South Korea’s Chief Negotiator for Peace on the Korean Peninsula, have repeatedly expressed willingness to engage in dialogue by mentioning 'humanitarian aid,' North Korea has shown no significant reaction.