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| President Moon Jae-in shakes hands with USFK chief Gen. Robert Abrams, right, at the start of his luncheon with commanders of the USFK and the South Korean military at Cheong Wa Dae, Tuesday. Behind Moon is Republic of Korea Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Park Han-ki. Yonhap |
By Kim Yoo-chul
Advancing inter-Korean ties is a "huge plus" in terms of maintaining the momentum for nuclear dialogue between North Korea and the United States, President Moon Jae-in said, Tuesday.
"Peace and eased military tension between the two Koreas are vital in keeping the nuclear dialogue between Pyongyang and Washington alive," Moon said during a meeting with top commanders of the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) and the Republic of Korea (ROK) military at Cheong Wa Dae.
The presidential office is seeking economic and cultural initiatives with North Korea to enhance inter-Korean tires. The two sides agreed last year to reinstate a joint military commission, develop mechanisms for family reunions and possibly pursue a joint bid to co-host the 2032 Olympics.
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"Despite the failure of the second summit between the United States and North Korea, they have continued to pursue avenues to maintain their nuclear dialogue, which I believe is thanks to U.S. President Donald Trump's personal trust in North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, and vice versa," Moon said.
The allied commanders invited to the luncheon were Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo, Republic of Korea Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Park Han-ki, USFK chief Gen. Robert Abrams, USFK Deputy Commander Lt. Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach, USFK Assistant Chief of Staff for Plans and Policy Maj. Gen. James W. Lukeman, Special Operations Command Korea Commander Maj. Gen. Tony D. Bauernfeind, and Eighth Army Deputy Commander Brig. Gen. Patrick J. Donahoe, according to Cheong Wa Dae.
This is the first time that high-profile USFK and South Korean military generals have attended a single event together, presidential aides said.
President Moon said the recent launches of short-range missiles by the North haven't impeded the joint military readiness of the United States and South Korean military forces.
"What we've achieved so far [for inter-Korean progress] was based on a stronger joint military readiness and commitment for a permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula. I want to thank you for your thoughtful and concerted rapprochement in handling the North's recent missile launches. As we responded calmly to the recent launches, nuclear diplomacy is expected to remainon going," Moon said, adding the presence of the USFK will continue regardless of the level of the peace process on the peninsula, given its pivotal role as a "balancer" for security in Northeast Asia.
The luncheon came a day after chief presidential press secretary Ko Min-jung said South Korea was still seeking consent from the National Assembly to provide food aid to the impoverished North via international humanitarian organizations such as the WEF and UNICEF.
Seoul vowed earlier to move quickly to provide $8 million worth of medical and nutritional aid for North Korean children through the U.N. agencies. North Korea's state media said last week that the country was suffering food shortages amid its worst drought in more than a century.
As February's summit breakdown was due to differences over sanctions relief and nuclear disarmament steps, South Korea plans to use the food aid as an incentive to break the impasse in the talks aimed at dismantling the North's nuclear program.
Trump plans to visit South Korea in late June for a meeting with Moon after participating in this year's G20 summit to be held in Osaka, Japan. President Moon is expected to pitch his idea of holding another inter-Korean summit to the U.S. president.
