China-ROK Relations: Interview with Song Young-gil: Moon's 'New Northern Policy' aims to ease tensions by economic ties

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Song Young-gil is Chairman of the Republic of Korea's Presidential Committee on Northern Economic Cooperation. He's currently on a visit to China. CGTN's Hou Na sat down with Song for his take on Moon's "New Northern Policy", and the latest developments in the Korean Peninsula situation.

Q1. Mr. Chairman, you are leading your country's first Presidential Committee on Northern Economic Cooperation. Tell us how it works and what is President Moon Jae-in's so-called New Northern Policy?

Answer: It is President Moon Jae-in's strong philosophy to connect the Russia and Mongolia, the central Asia country and China, to connect the economic cooperation. Through economic cooperation so as to extend our Korea market also to ease tension.

Q2. As an economic cooperation framework, President Moon's new policy aims to defuse tensions on the Korean Peninsula through economic cooperation. How exactly will that work?

Answer: Surrounding the North Korea nuclear issue, our country, we are between China Russia, Japan and the United States, it is very difficult situation. So how can we comprise between two power, we can only do that through economic cooperation. Through the economic cooperation, we are two sides.

Q3. How do you comment on the signs of a thaw in relations on the Korean Peninsula? How do you see China's role in this?

Answer: China's role is very critical. China consistently urged this kind of direct talks is very critical to serving North Korea nuclear issue.