Jung Se-hyun "Possibility of Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong-un Meeting at Panmunjom... Must Not Pass June"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Jeong Se-hyun, Senior Vice Chairman of the Democratic Peaceful Unification Advisory Council, predicted that President Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of North Korea, could meet at Panmunjom this month to push for the resumption of working-level talks. However, he emphasized that this timing should not extend beyond this month.

On the 1st, Senior Vice Chairman Jeong appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' and said, "There is a possibility of creating a scenario where the South and North Korean leaders have a one-point contact or dialogue at Panmunjom first, and on that foundation, a stepping stone can be laid for the start of North Korea-US negotiations."

In response to the host's question, "Are you considering holding a Panmunjom summit between the South and North Korean leaders like in 2018 to resume working-level talks?" he replied, "That method is possible, and the reverse is also possible," but added, "However, it must not go beyond June." This is because less than a year remains in the Moon administration.

He stressed that joint South Korea-US military exercises should not be conducted to restore inter-Korean dialogue. Regarding President Moon's meeting with the leaders of five parties where he said, "Due to COVID-19, joint South Korea-US military exercises are difficult," Jeong speculated, "Isn't there some consensus (through the South Korea-US summit) that the joint South Korea-US military exercises in August should be suspended?" He added, "Only if we do not conduct this year's joint South Korea-US military exercises will there be time to restore inter-Korean dialogue and resume North Korea-US negotiations toward the end of the Moon administration."

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