청 "UAE Cheongung-2 Export, Culmination of 12 Years of Effort by Three Governments"

Park Suhyun, Blue House Chief of Public Communication, Explains Background of Cheongung-2 Export on Facebook

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] "The success of exporting 'Cheongung 2' to the UAE is the culmination of 12 years of efforts by three governments and the fruit of the Moon Jae-in administration's 'sincere diplomacy' that made the ground firmer after the rain."

Park Soo-hyun, Senior Secretary for Public Communication at the Blue House, posted on Facebook on the 28th a 'president's story not included in the briefing' related to the export of Cheongung 2 to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Park also conveyed what President Moon Jae-in mentioned at the Blue House staff meeting on the 18th regarding the article titled 'Historic export of Korean-style Patriot, imminent 4 trillion won contract with UAE for Cheongung 2'.

President Moon said, "This is truly good news. The Barakah nuclear power plant contract led to the dispatch of the ARC unit, which resulted in defense cooperation," adding, "Since our government took office, we have made many efforts in defense and defense industry cooperation, and during the UAE Crown Prince's visit to Korea, we even revealed our Agency for Defense Development."

The view of the Blue House from Namsan, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Park explained, "This achievement is not only due to the performance of 'Cheongung 2,' boasting a 100% interception rate, but also the result of accumulated efforts by three successive governments."

Park said, "There is a saying that 'Middle East diplomacy is more about people than systems,' and the Moon Jae-in administration had to start by dispelling the UAE's suspicions about the three-year diplomatic gap during the previous government."

Park added, "With close emotional rapport matured through presidential calls, letter exchanges, special envoy swaps, and two invitations to visit the UAE, finally, from March 24 to 27, 2018, for three nights and four days, President Moon made an official visit to the UAE," explaining, "The long-awaited meeting after more than three years of summit hiatus felt like a reunion of lovers who had to part for some reason for a long time."

Park said, "'Sincerity and genuine feelings' are the most important foundation of trust not only in personal relationships but also in national relations, and I believe the Moon Jae-in administration's diplomacy with the UAE proves that these are the most solid seeds of fruitful outcomes."