Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

At a summit in New York, President Moon and U.S. President Trump reaffirmed the unwavering relationship between the two countries

The two leaders reached an agreement to maintain and strengthen the alliance, including economic cooperation;
formed a consensus on the issue of sharing defense costs;
exchanged opinions on ways to achieve practical results through the North Korea-U.S. working-level talks;
gave shape to building a permanent peace regime on the Korean Peninsula

On September 23 (local time), President Moon Jae-in and U.S. President Donald Trump reaffirmed the strength of the alliance between Republic of Korea and the U.S., as the linchpin of peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia. They also reconfirmed the willingness of both countries to build a permanent peace regime on the peninsula.

“At the summit between Republic of Korea and the U.S. that was held at the Intercontinental New York Barclay Hotel later in the day, the two leaders shared a positive assessment of North Korea’s recent willingness to resume dialogue, and exchanged opinions on ways to achieve practical results early in the working-level negotiations between North Korea and the U.S.,” Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Ko Min-jung said at the briefing in New York.

At their ninth summit since taking office, the two leaders spoke for 65 minutes from 5:30 pm to 6:35 pm, far longer than had been scheduled.

“The two leaders agreed to continue their close cooperation in order to effectively deal with a wide range of challenges on the Korean Peninsula and in the region. They reached an agreement to keep the alliance between Republic of Korea and the U.S. moving in a reciprocal and comprehensive direction that includes bilateral economic cooperation,” Ko added.

At the summit, the two leaders also discussed ways to avoid the use force against North Korea once the denuclearization of North Korea is realized. On this issue, a senior Cheong Wa Dae official commented, "The two leaders reaffirmed their current pledge not to exercise force against North Korea and to provide a bright future for North Korea when it dismantles its nuclear weapons," explaining that “The two leaders confirmed that Trump is strongly interested in making practical progress in the denuclearization of and the establishment of peace on the Korean Peninsula, through negotiations based on the Singapore agreement. They discussed in-depth ways to bring about practical outcomes so that the working-level talks would lead to a third summit (between North Korea and the U.S.).”

Regarding the upcoming eleventh Special Measures Agreement on military cost-sharing for the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK), “The two leaders agreed to obtain mutually beneficial and satisfactory results from the agreement in order to further strengthen the alliance between Republic of Korea and the U.S.,” the official said. “President Moon stressed fair sharing at a reasonable level. He explained in detail the Republic of Korean government’s efforts to contribute to the alliance, citing the steady increase in Republic of Korea's spending on national defense, its purchase of U.S. weapons and its sharing of the USFK cost,” the official said. “President Moon briefed U.S. President Trump on Republic of Korea’s situation (related to the purchase of U.S. weapons) over the past decade and its plans for the next three years,” the official added.

Following this, President Moon was scheduled to speak at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly early in the morning on September 25 (Korean time). At his third UN General Assembly since taking office and his first as Republic of Korean President, President Moon plans to secure continuous support from the international community by explaining the progress in and the Republic of Korean government’s efforts for the Korean Peninsula Peace Process at his keynote speech. President Moon’s keynote speech will be broadcast live worldwide.

By Joo-Hyeong, Lee < jataka@dema.mil.kr >

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