Moon stresses cooperation of political parties for inter-Korean relations

Mar 08, 2018, 07:53 am

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President Moon hosts a meeting with the leaders of five major parties at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae on Wednesday. (From left) Lee Jeong-mi of the progressive Justice Party, Yoo Seong-min of the Bareunmirae Party, Choo Mi-ae of the ruling Democratic Party, President Moon, Hong Joon-pyo of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party and Cho Bae-sook of the Party for Democracy and Peace./ Source: Yonhap News

By AsiaToday reporter Joo Sung-sik

President Moon Jae-in on Wednesday stressed cooperation of the political parties to foster inter-Korean relations, North Korea-U.S. dialogue, and peace on the Korean Peninsula during a meeting with the leaders of five political parties held at Cheong Wa Dae while sharing the results of his special envoys' two-day visit to the North this week.

The leaders of the ruling and opposition parties were positive about the inter-Korean agreement of the special envoys to the North, but pushed for countermeasures in the future, saying that the envoys failed to make any practical progress on the denuclearization of North Korea. Opposition leaders demanded that the government should promote its North Korea policy transparently on the basis of public trust since it is a matter of people's life and national survival.

"Since we are only at the starting line, it is too early to be optimistic," Moon said at the meeting regarding the results of his special envoys' Pyongyang visit. He asked for national and political cooperation, saying, "We are at a very important juncture in establishing peace on the Korean Peninsula and denuclearization."

Stressing that he has been in a close consultation with US President Donald Trump on related matters, he said, "Mr. Trump appears to have a positive view on the result of the trip looking at his Twitter and foreign news reports."

"National Security Office chief Chung Eui-yong will give a detailed report on the results of the visit and follow-up measures, so I ask for your ideas on how to make use of this opportunity and ask you to gather your wisdom," the president said.

Hong Joon-pyo of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party requested a more cautious approach to the North. "There could be an unfortunate event if the inter-Korean summit turns out to have been the North's scheme to buy time," Hong said.

Yoo Seung-min, leader of minor conservative Bareunmirae Party, requested the government to promote its North Korea policy as transparently and honestly as possible, saying, "Whether the North's intentions are to temporarily avoid sanctions and pressures or to actually become denuclearized will be confirmed later in the negotiation process."

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