[Editorial] S. Korea needs to marshal all its efforts to bring positive message to N. Korea from Trump

South Korean President Moon Jae-in talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the G20 Osaka Summit on June 27. (Yonhap News)

South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Osaka on June 27. Xi delivered a message from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, conveyed during last week’s North Korea-China in summit. Xi said that Kim’s commitment to denuclearization remains “unchanged,” and that the North Korean leader hopes to resolve issues “through dialogue.” It was a reaffirmation of North Korea’s position favoring a dialogue-based resolution to the denuclearization issue.

In particular, Xi indicated that Kim was “working to achieve economic development and improve livelihoods according to a new strategic course,” which could be taken as showing that North Korea’s focus on economic development remains unchanged. Kim’s message that he “hopes for improvement in the external situation” can be understood as showing his willingness to continue with denuclearization talks that will lead to economic development. Xi further reported that Kim is prepared to pursue reconciliation and cooperation with Seoul and that the current trend of dialogue on the Korean Peninsula will not change. Many are now watching to see what changes are in store for inter-Korean relations, which have seen no progress since the North Korea-US summit in Hanoi last February. Hopefully, this detailed sharing of the results from the North Korea-China summit will benefit Moon in making his next move as a catalyst for negotiations.

The important thing now is the next move from US President Donald Trump, who arrives in South Korea on June 29. Before leaving for Osaka, Trump made it clear he has no plans to meet with Kim, but he did also say he might communicate with Kim in some other way. His remarks may be seen as suggesting that some indirect form of dialogue could take place between the North Korean and US heads of state. One immediate possibility is that Trump could state some meaningful message to the North while visiting Panmunjom in the DMZ during his time in South Korea. The message Trump conveys is very likely to determine whether bilateral negotiations restart or the current impasse continues. This is a moment that calls for South Korea to marshal all its diplomatic capabilities to bring about a positive message from Trump.

Moon and Xi shake hands before their summit in Osaka on June 27. (Yonhap News)

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