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South Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang Kyung-wha
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Recommends road map for comprehensive denuclearization as starting point for dialogue
South Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang Kyung-wha said on May 3 that both North Korea and the US need to show flexibility on the issue of denuclearization talks. “There definitely needs to be a road map for comprehensive denuclearization,” she stressed. In a press conference for the international press at the Seoul Press Center that day, Kang said she “look[s] forward to a table for denuclearization negotiations being establishing between North Korea and the US in the nearest possible future.” “There needs to be a very comprehensive picture. That is the starting point for dialogue,” she said. Kang’s remarks echoed her comments during a domestic press conference the day before, where she said she “think[s] North Korea should broaden its scope a bit” and examine the issue “from a comprehensive perspective.” Her comments were read as reiterating her demand for a change in attitude from North Korea by asking that Pyongyang broaden its scope from dismantlement of the Yongbyon nuclear complex and agree to discussions on denuclearization in general for the sake of resuming denuclearization talks with the US. But Kang also indirectly hinted that the US should adjust its approach in seeking a “package deal.” “The US and North Korea need to find a common foundation to achieve progress. I think both sides need more flexibility,” she said. Responding to arguments that Pyongyang is “not committed” to denuclearization, Kang flatly replied, “That isn’t the case.” “When [North Korean leader] Kim Jong-un visited Hanoi [for the second North Korea-US summit], he came with solid measures prepared, but they weren’t enough from the US’ perspective,” she said, suggesting the fact that Kim arrived with a firm proposal could be seen as showing his commitment to denuclearization. Responds to Tokyo’s claim that Seoul needlessly magnifies historical issues A reporter with the Japanese press asked a question the same day about President Moon Jae-in’s comments the day before about being “disappointed with Japan’s tendency to magnify historical issues by using them for domestic political purposes.” Noting that people in Japan view South Korea as “exploiting historical issues such as the March 1 Independence Movement centennial and dealing with the legacy of pro-Japan collaborationists for political purposes,” the reporter questioned whether the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had not submitted a faulty report. In response, Kang said, “The president has a real commitment to developing South Korea-Japan relations in a forward-looking way.” “It is natural that the administration would celebrate the centennial of the March 1 Independence Movement,” she continued. “It seems to be that [Japan’s] view of the South Korean government as attempting to exploit historical issues domestically is itself a case of viewing this matter politically.” By Park Min-hee, staff reporter Please direct comments or questions to [english@hani.co.kr]
