| President Moon Jae-in speaks during a local event at Cheong Wa Dae, Feb. 4, in this file photo. Yonhap |
By Kim Yoo-chul
President Moon Jae-in has revamped his national security team to deal with the aftermath of the breakdown of the second summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Hanoi.
Their primary role is to mediate between U.S. and North Korean officials and promote inter-Korean relations, Cheong Wa Dae officials said Thursday.
In a recent reshuffle of the National Security Office (NSO), Moon kept NSO chief Chung Eui-yong, but replaced other officials.
“The partial reshuffle was designed to improve communication with the U.S. and other countries surrounding the Korean Peninsula,” a presidential aide said, asking not to be named.
Kim Hyun-jong, a prominent trade negotiator, was appointed as the second deputy chief of the NSO. Kim's appointment was viewed as a surprise given his lack of experience regarding North Korea-related issues.
Kim, a former legal chief at Samsung Group and a trade lawyer, has served as Seoul's ambassador to the United Nations and trade minister. Kim was also South Korea's lead negotiator last year for talks on revisions to the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA).
He is expected to share President Moon's ideas about inter-Korean economic projects with officials within the Trump administration.
Moon earlier said he would ask Trump to consider lifting some sanctions on North Korea for an early resumption of the inter-Korean economic projects. Moon has asserted that the nuclear disarmament talks between Washington and Pyongyang should be in sync with the development of inter-Korean relations.
Moon also appointed Choi Jong-kun to the newly established position of peace planning secretary, and Noh Kyu-duk as security strategy secretary.
Following the changes, secretaries for security strategy, defense reform and cyber information have been placed under the first deputy chief of the NSO. Secretaries for foreign policy, unification policy and peace were placed under the second deputy chief.