Moon on Seo Hoon's Arrest: "Top North Korea Expert and Strategist... Saddened by the Loss of an Asset"

Critical Message Directed at the Prosecution

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] Former President Moon Jae-in commented on former National Security Office Director Suh Hoon, who was detained by the prosecution on the 3rd, saying, "It is difficult to find a trusted asset with long experience and expertise like former Director Suh again. It is truly regrettable to break such an asset."

Former President Moon stated this on the 4th through Facebook, saying, "Once trust is broken, it becomes even harder."

He explained, "Former Director Suh is the top North Korea expert, strategist, and negotiator who participated in all inter-Korean negotiations under the Kim Dae-jung, Roh Moo-hyun, and Moon Jae-in administrations," adding, "He established the best intelligence cooperation relationship between South Korea and the U.S., overcoming the North Korean nuclear missile crisis in the early Moon administration through close coordination with the U.S., and led the Peace Olympics and the North Korea-U.S. summits, creating a major turning point for peace."

He continued, "The best negotiation strategy between South and North Korea, as well as between South Korea and the U.S., is trust," and said, "Trust is not built overnight. It requires consistent effort over a long period."

In a statement released on the 1st through Yoon Gun-young, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, former President Moon said, "Turning security issues into political strife and trampling on the pride of public officials who have devoted many years to national security is unacceptable," and added, "I hope the line will not be crossed."