Hong Jun-pyo: "The economy is a 'Meoksa' but security is a 'Juksa'... Realizing North-South nuclear balance is necessary"

Hong Joon-pyo, Mayor of Daegu. Provided by Daegu City

Hong Joon-pyo, Mayor of Daegu Metropolitan City, who is visiting the United States to attend President Donald Trump's inauguration ceremony, stated that a nuclear balance policy between South and North Korea is necessary in response to President Trump's remarks recognizing North Korea as a nuclear power. This is based on the judgment that the economy is a matter of "meoksa" (making a living), but security is a matter of "juksa" (life and death).

On the 22nd, Mayor Hong wrote on his Facebook, "Today, the Washington political circles are focusing on the fact that Trump referred to North Korea's status as a nuclear power," adding, "Usually, nuclear-armed countries are called nuclear weapon states, but the fact that he did not use this term and instead recognized North Korea as a de facto nuclear power like India, Pakistan, and Israel does not seem to be a bad sign for us."

Mayor Hong said, "When I visited Washington in October 2017 as the leader of the opposition party, the issue of redeploying tactical nuclear weapons could not even be mentioned because it contradicted the U.S. denuclearization policy," and continued, "The official and unofficial figures I met in Washington this time all answered that the North Korean nuclear issue is a matter of the will of Korean leaders, and most accepted the nuclear balance policy between South and North Korea." He added, "Denying the existence of North Korea's nuclear weapons is a wrong policy, and approaching the already lost denuclearization issue diplomatically is an unrealistic method."

Emphasizing peace through a balance of power, Mayor Hong stated, "The only remaining option is to realize the nuclear balance policy between South and North Korea so that we can escape the threat of North Korea's nuclear weapons," and expressed confidence, "I am convinced that the second term of Trump will be a good opportunity for us to realistically resolve the North Korean nuclear issue." He also said, "The economy is a matter of making a living, but security is a matter of life and death," and concluded, "I have seen and felt many things on this visit to Washington."