We have been chronicling how South Korea has been teaming up with North Korea on a number if different projects in an apparent effort geared toward eventually opening up the rogue nation in a way that will not be a severe economic strain on its southern neighbor.
Though the Hanoi Summit did not conclude with a declaration, South Korea’s President Moon Jae-in promises he will work toward having the other two countries complete the peace deal.
President Moon Jae-in reaffirmed Friday his commitment to bringing the US and North Korea to the negotiating table again for nuclear talks, after the two countries ended their summit without a deal.During a ceremony marking the centennial anniversary of the March 1 Independence Movement against Japanese colonial rule, Moon stressed the expanded diplomatic role of South Korea in bridging the gap between Washington and Pyongyang.“My administration will closely communicate and cooperate with the United States and North Korea so as to help their talks reach complete settlement by any means,” he said.
In his address, Moon acknowledged that there were hopeful signs a peace deal could be struck.
He added that the discussions in Hanoi were meaningful in that U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un spoke about the issue of setting up a U.S. liaison office in Pyongyang, “an important step toward the normalization of bilateral ties.”In addition, Moon highly evaluated Trump’s commitment to continuing talks with the North.The president made hopeful remarks despite the result of the Hanoi summit, something Moon had eagerly been pushing for.He referred to the easing of tension between the South and North due to the unfolding detente that began last year.”This will lead to South Koreans’ free and safe trips to North Korea. I will strive to make it possible for separated families to visit their hometowns and meet with their relatives,” he said.
Meanwhile, North Korea’s leader indicates he is more than willing to meet with Trump again.
North Korean state news agency KNCA’s report Friday offered an upbeat takeaway of the meeting, saying both leaders walked away with a deeper commitment to forging ties between the two historically hostile nations.The report said Kim was appreciative that Trump had made “active efforts towards results” and that he regarded the summit talks as “productive,” Reuters reported.Efforts were taken on both sides, Kim reportedly said, to ease tension and bring about peace in the region. Though not yielding any concrete results, the second summit was an important state in reversing decades of hostility and bringing the two nations’ relationship to the next level, Kim reportedly said.
Perhaps the American media could help the peace process next time, by focusing some coverage on the negotiations instead of ginned-up congressional drama set forth by those suffering from chronic Trump Derangement Syndrome.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL VERSION OF THIS STORY