Moon's Memoir "Kim Jong-un Said He Doesn't Want His Daughter to Live with Nuclear Threat Over Her Head"

First Memoir Published After Retirement on the 17th
Includes Behind-the-Scenes Negotiations with Kim Jong-un and Trump

Former President Moon Jae-in revealed through his memoir, published on the 2nd anniversary of his retirement on the 17th, that North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un earnestly expressed his willingness for denuclearization.

In the book, former President Moon recalled his meeting with Chairman Kim in April 2018, saying, "Chairman Kim repeatedly used such expressions. 'Nuclear weapons are strictly to guarantee our own safety. We have no intention of using them at all. If we could live without nuclear weapons, why would we endure so many sanctions and live with the burden of nuclear weapons on our heads? I have a daughter too, and I do not want her generation to live with nuclear weapons on their heads,'" adding, "He explained his will for denuclearization in his own earnest way." He continued, "(Chairman Kim) repeatedly expressed his deep frustration that the international community, including the United States, distrusts their willingness for denuclearization."

Former President Moon Jae-in published his first memoir after leaving office, "From the Margins to the Center" (Kim Young-sa), on the 17th. [Image source=Kim Young-sa]

Regarding former U.S. President Donald Trump, he said, "President Trump himself said several times that 'the chemistry with President Moon is really good. It's the best chemistry.' Although there are negative evaluations of him, to me, he was a very compatible partner in alliance diplomacy," and added, "He is often described as rude and rough, but I liked him because he was honest. People who smile but act differently and are hard to read are actually more difficult to deal with."

On the other hand, about the late former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, he said, "He was immovable," and "He showed a good face and spoke softly when meeting, but there was no progress at all once he turned away."

Former President Moon also expressed regrets about the current administration's foreign policy.

He pointed out, "As competition and conflicts between the U.S. and China intensify, the conditions for our diplomacy have become more difficult, and on top of that, the current administration's excessively ideological stance, abandoning strategic ambiguity, is further exacerbating the difficulties in our diplomacy." Regarding North Korea policy, he criticized, "The crisis in relations is reaching the worst level in history," and "While North Korea's provocations are concerning, our government's excessive responses and, above all, the complete lack of efforts to reduce the crisis through dialogue despite the escalating tensions are worrying."

Meanwhile, the first memoir after retirement, From the Periphery to the Center, contains reflections and behind-the-scenes stories about three inter-Korean summits and 58 diplomatic trips during his five-year tenure from May 2017 to May 2022. The book is structured in a question-and-answer format, with Choi Jong-geon, a professor of political science and diplomacy at Yonsei University who served as the Blue House Peace Planning Secretary and the first vice minister of foreign affairs during the Moon Jae-in administration, asking questions and former President Moon responding.