Moon urges seizing rare opportunity on denuclearization

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Moon Jae-in, president of the Republic of Korea (ROK), said on Monday that there is a rare opportunity to "peacefully resolve the North Korean (DPRK) nuclear issue," calling for efforts to seize the opportunity, Yonhap reported.

"This is the first opportunity that has been presented to us in 65 years since the end of the Korean War in 1953, and one that may never come again," Moon said during a regular meeting with his senior aides at his office Cheong Wa Dae. "We must take advantage of this opportunity, no matter what. We must take this opportunity and peacefully resolve the North Korean (DPRK) nuclear issue."

Moon said he positively expected the outcome of the second summit between DPRK leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump, which the White House said would be held near the end of February.

U.S. President Donald Trump (R) meets with DPRK leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore, June 12, 2018. /VCG Photo

The ROK president noted that he heard from the U.S. side of the positive assessment on the results of the talks between Kim Yong Chol, vice chairman of DPRK's ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) Central Committee, and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo as well as the former's meeting with Trump.

Kim Yong Chol visited Washington over the weekend, holding high-level talks with Pompeo and met with Trump at the Oval Office of the White House.

Moon said the ROK should build an unwavering peace on the Korean Peninsula that can lead to an opportunity for the growth of the country's economy.

ROK foreign minister Kang Kyung-wha and Pompeo held phone talks on Monday over the second summit between Trump and Kim.

DPRK leader Kim Jong Un (L) and ROK President Moon Jae-in shake hands during a historic inter-Korean summit in the border village of Panmunjom, April 27, 2018. /VCG Photo

Trump said on Saturday that he had "an incredible" meeting with Kim Yong Chol and the two sides had made "a lot of progress" on denuclearization.

On Sunday, the U.S. president said he is looking forward to his upcoming summit with Kim Jong Un.

"The media is not giving us credit for the tremendous progress we have made with North Korea (DPRK)," Trump tweeted. "Looking forward to meeting with chairman Kim at end of February!"

No official announcement has been made about the venue for summit, though multiple reports suggest that Vietnam could host the event.

The two leaders previously met in Singapore last June, agreeing on some general visions on denuclearization and improving ties. But negotiations on how to implement the agreement have hit an impasse.

(Cover: ROK President Moon Jae-in. /VCG Photo)

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