Moon thanks Kim Jong-un for ushering in “new era” in summit’s introductory remarks

South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during their first meeting of the Pyongyang summit at the headquarters of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) headquarters on Sept. 18. Moon is accompanied by Blue House National Security Office Director Chung Eui-yong and National Intelligence Service Director Suh Hoon; on Kim’s side are WPK Central Committee Vice Chairman Kim Yong-chol and First Deputy Director Kim Yo-jong. (photo pool)

Kim Jong-un expresses gratitude to Moon for getting North Korea-US dialogue back on track

South Korean President Moon Jae-in made remarks on Sept. 18 expressing “gratitude for [North Korean leader] Kim Jong-un’s decision to open up a new era.”

Speaking in introductory remarks ahead of a third inter-Korean summit that day at the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) headquarters in Pyongyang, Moon noted, “This is our third meeting in five months.”

“In retrospect, we have had the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics and Chairman Kim’s New Year’s address before that, and that New Year’s address included a bold decision by Chairman Kim,” he said.

As if conscious of the global attention focused on the summit, President Moon declared, “We are acutely aware of the weight we are carrying and must carry, and we sense a grave sense of responsibility.”

“Hopefully these will be talks that produce rich results as a Chuseok gift for 80 million Koreans,” he continued, referring to the upcoming fall harvest holiday on Sept. 26.

“I also hope we can show the fruits of peace and prosperity to the people of the world,” he added, alluding to his hopes of bringing about improvements in North Korea-US relations as they show signs of a protracted stalemate.

President Moon also shared his impressions of central Pyongyang as seen from his motorcade the same day.

“Arriving in downtown Pyongyang, I was astonished at Pyongyang’s development. I tip my hat to Chairman Kim’s leadership in improving his people’s lives under difficult circumstances, and I have great expectations,” he said.

Kim also conveyed a sense of closeness with President Moon.

“I have met President Moon three times, and if I am to express my feelings, I would say we have truly grown close,” he said.

“We have achieved great things thanks to President Moon’s tireless efforts,” he continued.

“Inter-Korean relations and North Korea-US relations have improved. President Moon found the embers for a historic North Korea-US dialogue.”

Kim went on to express gratitude to President Moon for his role in the North Korea-US summit.

“It would not be going too far to say the historic encounter of the North Korea-US summit happened thanks to President Moon,” he said.

The remarks from Kim suggested his perceptions of the consistent message sent by Moon on denuclearization and the establishment of permanent peace since taking office last year, as well as the rapid changes in the political situation following the June 12 North Korea-US summit in Singapore, which itself had a previous inter-Korean summit at Panmunjom on Apr. 27 serving as a springboard.

“The situation in the surrounding region has become more stable as a result, and I feel that we can continue making progress between North Korea and the US going ahead,” Kim said.

“I thank President Moon once again for the efforts he has made,” he added.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in shakes hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un before their first summit meeting at the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) headquarters in Pyongyang on Sept. 18. (photo pool)

First summit attendance by Chung Eui-yong and Suh Hoon

The summit that day was attended by Blue House National Security Office Director Chung Eui-yong and National Intelligence Service Director Suh Hoon on the South Korean side and WPK Central Committee Vice Chairman Kim Yong-chol and First Deputy Director Kim Yo-jong on the North Korean side.

It was the first summit appearance by Chung, who did not attend the first and second inter-Korean summits. The change was seen as reflecting Moon’s characterization of the summit as an occasion for “making focused on efforts to encourage North Korea-US dialogue toward denuclearization.”

Chung’s appearance also ties in with previous efforts to have the summit include discussions on “practical guidelines for denuclearization.” In addition to meeting twice with Kim during March and September visits to North Korea as head of special envoy delegations for Moon, Chung also serves as the South Korean government’s main representative in senior-level discussions with Washington. He is known to be in close contact with the US, including periodic conversations with White House National Security Advisor John Bolton.

During their meeting that day, the two leaders discussed major agenda items including denuclearization, advancement of inter-Korean relations, and reduction of military tensions. They jointly announced a summit agreement following a second meeting at the Paekhwawon Guest House on the morning of Sept. 19.

By Kim Bo-hyeop and Noh Ji-won, staff reporters

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