Mun "Progress in Inter-Korean Dialogue, Next Government's Responsibility"…Kim Jong-un "Possibility of Inter-Korean Relations Development" (Comprehensive)

Cheong "Activities observed at Punggye-ri are part of nuclear test preparation activities"

President Moon Jae-in and North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un are shaking hands on May 26 last year at the Tongilgak in the northern area of Panmunjom before the 2nd Inter-Korean Summit.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] President Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, exchanged letters ahead of President Moon's retirement, emphasizing the need to strive for the improvement of inter-Korean relations.

Park Kyung-mi, spokesperson for the Blue House, stated on the 22nd, "Through the recent exchange of letters, President Moon and General Secretary Kim reflected on the past five years and shared mutual understanding regarding their continued efforts toward peace and unification on the Korean Peninsula through trust and dialogue."

Earlier that day, the Korean Central News Agency reported that President Moon sent a letter to General Secretary Kim on the 20th, and Kim responded with a reply letter the following day.

In his letter, General Secretary Kim evaluated, "Although we did not achieve all the hopes we had, we produced historic declarations and agreements that serve as milestones in inter-Korean relations, which are undeniable achievements," and added, "Looking back now, there are many regrets, but based on the efforts made so far, if the South and the North continue to devote sincere efforts without hesitation, inter-Korean relations can certainly improve and develop in line with the expectations of our nation."

He also addressed President Moon, who is about to retire, saying, "I highly appreciate and pay tribute to President Moon's anguish, efforts, and passion for the national cause until the very end of his term," and "I will not forget President Moon and will continue to respect him even after his retirement."

In the letter he sent earlier, President Moon said, "I send my final regards as president," and expressed, "I believe we took a definite step together with General Secretary Kim to change the fate of the Korean Peninsula." While expressing regret that the inter-Korean dialogue did not reach the hoped-for destination, he also hoped that "dialogue will overcome the era of confrontation and that dialogue between North Korea and the United States will resume soon."

President Moon stated, "The progress of dialogue is the responsibility of the next administration," and asked General Secretary Kim to "keep the great cause of peace on the Korean Peninsula in mind and engage in inter-Korean cooperation."

He further said, "The Panmunjom Declaration, the Pyongyang Declaration, and the September 19 Military Agreement created by the South and the North should serve as the foundation for unification, and I will always believe and wait for the efforts of both sides to be revived as a precious driving force for peace on the Korean Peninsula."

President Moon concluded the letter by saying, "Now I return to being an ordinary citizen, but wherever and whenever, I will share my heart for peace on the Korean Peninsula."

Spokesperson Park said, "This exchange of letters between the two leaders was made in deep trust," and added, "We expect that this final exchange of letters during the Moon Jae-in administration will serve as a foundation for the future development of inter-Korean relations."

This exchange of letters occurred amid speculation about the possible resumption of nuclear tests, as North Korea is repairing the Punggye-ri nuclear facility.

In the letter sent to General Secretary Kim, President Moon did not directly request restraint on nuclear tests but appeared to do so indirectly. When asked whether the letter contained related content, a Blue House official said, "Since we are concluding our term, the letter includes words suggesting that, rather than confrontation, dialogue should overcome all of this."

The Blue House appears to be highly concerned about the possibility of North Korea conducting nuclear tests. The official said, "The activities observed at Punggye-ri are part of preparations for a possible nuclear test in the near future," and added, "We are analyzing North Korea's movements, changes, messages, and strategic rhetoric and making necessary preparations accordingly."

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