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Moon's remarks about inter-Korean projects are premature
President Moon Jae-in spoke on the phone with U.S. President Donald Trump earlier this week about the second U.S.-North Korea summit in Vietnam.
With the Feb.27-28 event only days away, it was a timely conversation to share their respective positions going into the summit and renew their commitment to mutual cooperation for security on the Korean Peninsula.
But some aspects of their conversation sparked concerns from the Korean people, particularly Moon's remarks that showed his rush toward inter-Korea economic projects. During the phone call, Tuesday, Moon reportedly told Trump he was "determined" to take on the inter-Korean railway and road links and other economic projects as corresponding measures to induce North Korea's denuclearization. He also said this would lessen the burden on the part of the U.S. Moon seems to be urging the U.S. for a special exemption to be able to carry out the joint economic projects with North Korea.
There are high expectations for the Hanoi summit next week to produce more concrete results than the first U.S.-North Korea summit in June 2018 in Singapore where the two foes of the 1950-53 Korean War vaguely agreed to work toward North Korea's denuclearization. Trump has continued to face criticisms that his first meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un lacked details on how to achieve denuclearization and that it was only a political show. Trump needs to prove the second time will be different. He said this week that the Hanoi summit will not be their last meeting, reflecting his willingness to continue negotiations with Kim in person.
At such a critical juncture in U.S-North Korea denuclearization talks, many people believe this is not the time for South Korea to mention such a strong focus on economic projects with North Korea, which has incessantly called on the U.S. to relieve sanctions.
Moon's remarks sparked negative reactions from some South Koreans who are opposed to his active diplomacy with North Korea. Many South Koreans believe the country should not have to pay so much for North Korea's economic development. It will take years for North Korea to take the steps needed for complete denuclearization and Trump has said repeatedly he is in no rush. So it is premature for Moon to jump into economic projects with North Korea. The talks of reopening the Gaeseong Industrial Complex and tourism on Mount Geumgang are ill-timed. South Korea should not make the mistake of giving North Korea too much before it shows a complete commitment to denuclearization.
Moon needs to make sure to stay on the same page with the U.S. as the three countries pursue North Korea's denuclearization.
