'20th Anniversary of 6·15' Inter-Korean Relations Chill... President Moon's Dilemma Over Security Message

President Moon's Achievements in Improving Inter-Korean Relations Shaken... Attention on Whether COVID-19 and Korean Peninsula Situation Messages Will Be Included in the SuBo Meeting Agenda

[Asia Economy Reporters Ryu Jeong-min and Son Seon-hee] President Moon Jae-in is facing the 20th anniversary of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration commemoration event amid a gloomy atmosphere. The achievements in improving inter-Korean relations, regarded as a hallmark of President Moon's administration, are being shaken at their roots. There are even predictions that North Korea may annul the September 19 military agreement through military provocations.

This is why President Moon's solution to the crisis on the Korean Peninsula following the statement by Kim Yo-jong, First Deputy Director of the North Korean Workers' Party, is drawing attention. The focus is on President Moon's message at the Blue House senior secretaries and aides meeting scheduled for the afternoon of the 15th. Although the main agenda of this meeting is the government's response to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), there is a possibility that President Moon's message regarding the situation on the Korean Peninsula will be included.

The Blue House has been busy responding to the situation on the Korean Peninsula since Kim Yo-jong's statement. In an unusual move, an emergency National Security Council (NSC) meeting was held early Sunday morning, the 14th, with even Park Han-ki, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, participating. Blue House spokesperson Kang Min-seok explained, "An emergency video conference of the NSC Standing Committee was held under the chairmanship of the National Security Office Director to assess the current situation on the Korean Peninsula and discuss countermeasures."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

As the possibility of North Korea's provocation and the annulment of the September 19 military agreement became apparent, the Blue House has shifted its 'low-key' strategy. Although the Blue House has taken an active stance by convening an emergency NSC Standing Committee meeting, having President Moon take the forefront is a matter of a different dimension. Merely delivering a general message expressing a desire to avoid deterioration of the situation on the Korean Peninsula is unlikely to secure momentum for improving inter-Korean relations.

If President Moon issues a message regarding the situation on the Korean Peninsula, both the timing and content will inevitably be important. However, even if preparations are underway for 'extraordinary measures' such as dispatching special envoys or proposing inter-Korean summits, as suggested by some in the political sphere, it is unlikely that these will be publicly disclosed. While it is necessary to soothe public anxiety, extraordinary measures require confidentiality until they are fully developed.

Meanwhile, the government’s June 15 20th anniversary event on the 15th will proceed in a scaled-down manner, and President Moon is expected to deliver his message via video rather than attending in person. The Blue House explained that President Moon’s video message was scheduled regardless of the recent deteriorating situation on the Korean Peninsula, including Kim Yo-jong’s statement.

However, considering that if a positive atmosphere had been formed in inter-Korean relations, the June 15 20th anniversary event would have been grandly held under government leadership, President Moon’s video message delivery is expected to remain a symbolic scene.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.