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South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha prepares for the Korea-Cambodia foreign minister meeting at Singapore’s EXPO Convention and Exhibition Centre on Aug. 1.
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Kang Kyung-wha stresses move away from unilateral denuclearization of North Korea
South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, who is currently in Singapore to attend the 25th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and other meetings connected with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, held a series of bilateral meetings with Malaysia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia, Brunei and Laos throughout the day on Aug. 1. During these meetings, Kang asked these countries to support South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s “New Southern Policy” while also explaining how circumstances have changed on the Korean Peninsula. According to a Foreign Ministry official who accompanied Kang at these meetings, Kang said that “there are high hopes that denuclearization will transpire quickly because North Korea publicly promised complete denuclearization in its summits with South Korea and the US, but denuclearization is a complicated process.” Kang also said that “this does not mean North Korea’s unilateral denuclearization” and that “there will also be a discussion of North Korea’s desire for a peace system and security assurances,” the official added. Kang’s remarks are notable since they coincide with North Korea’s message that the US should not make unilateral demands about denuclearization. Since the North Korea-US summit held in Singapore on June 12, the two countries have been wrestling over how the terms of the joint statement should be implemented and in what order. With the US insisting that the denuclearization process must begin with North Korea disclosing the details of its nuclear program and North Korea demanding that the normalization of relations must begin with the US formally ending the Korean War, the two sides have been at loggerheads, preventing them from entering into follow-up negotiations. According to this official, Kang explained that a peace system that could guarantee the safety of the North Korean regime was being discussed along with denuclearization, since North Korea has argued that its nuclear program is supposed to be a form of deterrence. The ASEAN Foreign Ministers responded by welcoming the recent changes on the Korean Peninsula and voicing their support for the South Korean government’s efforts, the Foreign Ministry official said. By Kim Ji-eun, staff reporter Please direct comments or questions to [english@hani.co.kr]
