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| North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, President Moon Jae-in |
By Kim Bo-eun
The government is expected to step up efforts for a possible visit to Seoul this month by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. President Moon Jae-in said this possibility was still open following his summit with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Expectations are high in certain circles that Moon may send a special envoy to Pyongyang soon to arrange the visit. Trump also said he is aiming for a summit with Kim early next year, something that could be helpful in reviving stalled denuclearization talks, according to some analysts.
"The possibility of Kim's visit within the month is open," President Moon told reporters in the presidential plane flying from Buenos Aires, Argentina, following the G20 summit, to New Zealand.
A week ago, Cheong Wa Dae had hinted that things might not go as planned, considering the stalemate in the denuclearization negotiations.
However, the presidential office has since gone back to its previous stance and is preparing for the possible summit between Moon and Kim to take place this month, despite the lack of time remaining.
Unification ministry spokesman Baik Tae-hyun said Monday, "The North Korean leader's visit to Seoul within this month is possible and necessary."
Moon said that President Trump supported Kim's visit, agreeing that a meeting between the leaders of the two Koreas could serve to build momentum for the talks between Pyongyang and Washington. Bilateral talks have been stalled for months, with a high-level meeting continuing to be delayed and no working-level talks having been held.
The President also said Trump asked him to tell Kim the U.S. would provide North Korea with what it wants, which could prompt him to come to Seoul to speak with Moon.
Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean studies in Seoul said the leaders appeared to be willing to meet.
"It appears the two leaders have a willingness to keep the promise of the North Korean leader visiting Seoul at an early date," Yang said.
However, he said there were challenges with such little time remaining.
For the summit to take place this month, Yang pointed out the Koreas would have to announce it this week and then proceed with working level talks.
There is also the huge burden of logistics and security of what would be the first visit of a North Korean leader to the South, especially given the time pressure, he said.
"It looks like North Korea is mulling over its options," Professor Koh Yu-hwan at Dongguk University said. Koh noted that Pyongyang may opt for an inter-Korean summit amid the stalled talks with Washington.
However, there wouldn't be much the North Korean leader could take from the summit, Shin Beom-chul at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies said.
"Because Moon and Trump agreed that sanctions will not be lifted until complete denuclearization is achieved, Kim would not be able to take home any gifts in this sense," he said.
"Unless progress in the denuclearization talks is made very soon, such as if successful high-level talks are held this weekend, North Korea would likely not be motivated for a fourth Moon-Kim summit this year," he said.
Professor Koh agreed.
"Pyongyang and Washington would likely need to reach a conclusion on denuclearization steps and corresponding measures that came up at the third inter-Korean summit, before the leaders of the Koreas meet again," Koh said.
