Moon Jae-in begins third year in power with hard sell on North Korean reconciliation but has his signature policy failed?
- The South Korean leader has struggled to bridge the gap between Washington and Pyongyang on the issue of nuclear disarmament
- Donald Trump on Friday appeared to pour cold water on the prospects for a swift resumption of negotiations
North Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan on Thursday, days after test-firing multiple projectiles – including at least one short-range ballistic missile. The launches were widely interpreted as an effort to pressure Washington to soften its hard line on denuclearisation.
Moon, who has made rapprochement with the North a signature issue since his inauguration in May 2017, has urged US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to return to negotiations since their second summit in Hanoi in February collapsed without a deal.
The South Korean leader, however, has struggled to bridge the gap between Washington and Pyongyang on the key issue of nuclear disarmament, despite repeatedly urging compromise from both sides. The Trump administration has demanded complete, verifiable disarmament before any easing of sanctions but Kim’s regime has insisted on a gradual, phased approach.
Trump on Friday appeared to pour cold water on the prospects for a swift resumption of negotiations.
“The relationship continues but we’ll see what happens,” Trump told media at the White House. “They want to negotiate, they’re talking about negotiating, but I don’t think they’re ready to negotiate.”
Kim Jong-ha, a security expert at Hannam University in Daejon, South Korea, said Moon faced an uphill battle to kick-start talks.
“In particular, North Korea, which considers the nuclear issue be a matter to be solved with the US, is unlikely to respond to the calls for a resumption of dialogue without specific benefits – that is, guaranteeing the security of the Kim Jong-un regime,” Kim said.
