Cheong Wa Dae "Considering Various Factors Regarding Moon's Visit to Beijing Olympics"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Regarding President Moon Jae-in's direct statement that he is "not considering" boycotting the Beijing Winter Olympics, the Blue House revealed that it is "comprehensively considering the situation" about whether President Moon will personally visit the Beijing Olympics.

Park Soo-hyun, Senior Secretary for Public Communication at the Blue House, appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' on the 14th and said, prefacing that "it is too early to comment on attendance," as such.

When asked by the host about "how the delegation will be formed," Senior Secretary Park also replied, "It is too early at this time."

Regarding the boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics, he said, "We are in a somewhat unique position. We are the country that hosted the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics just before," mentioning the responsibility as the immediate previous host of the Winter Olympics.

Senior Secretary Park stated, "We hope that the Beijing Winter Olympics will also be a peaceful Olympics like the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, and an Olympics for peace on the Korean Peninsula and peace in the Northeast Asian region," adding, "As the country that hosted the previous Olympics, we have the duty and obligation to make that happen and contribute to it."

Regarding concerns about the Korea-US relationship as South Korea draws a line on the boycott while the US allies consecutively join the boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics, he said, "South Korea and the United States are always on a path to discuss, deliberate, and further develop various issues based on a strong alliance," and "the most important principle is the future and national interest of the Republic of Korea."

President Moon attended a key minerals supply chain meeting in Australia in the afternoon, and the day before, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on key minerals between Korea and Australia was signed during the summit. Regarding concerns that Australia might present a bill to counter China, Senior Secretary Park dismissed them, saying, "Such analysis or questions are somewhat excessive," and "The president's visit is due to economic national interests."

He continued, "We are not a country that would be pressured in Australia," adding, "world diplomacy cannot impose such pressure on any sovereign country, and it is no longer an era where such things work."

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