Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

President Moon Jae-in officially puts fourth inter-Korean summit on the table; plans to send envoy to North Korea

“I have confirmed what North Korean leader Kim thinks. Now is the time for us to go ahead with another inter-Korean summit.” 
Moon said that Kim has shown his commitment to 'implementing the inter-Korean joint declarations.’ 

“We will move steadily toward prosperity and unification,” he added, stressing the ongoing nature of the peace-building process on the Korean Peninsula.

On April 15th, President Moon Jae-in officially called for North Korea to hold a fourth inter-Korean summit. “When North Korea is ready, I hope South and North Korea will be able to sit down, without being bound to any location or format, to discuss concrete and substantive ways that we can achieve a fruitful outcome that goes beyond the two North Korea-U.S. summits,” he said. 

In a meeting with chief aides, which was presided over by President Moon at Cheong Wa Dae on Monday, the President stated, “Having confirmed that the two Koreas see eye to eye, conditions are in place for another inter-Korean summit. Now is the time to move ahead and determine the details.”

“North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has also made it clear that the two Koreas should move toward the future together by thoroughly implementing the Panmunjom Declaration and the September Pyongyang Joint Declaration,” President Moon said. “Our government is determined to steadily implement the inter-Korean joint declarations, regardless of any difficulties,” he added, expressing his commitment.

President Moon went on to add, “Having achieved a great transition to a dialogue under volatile confrontation and the two North Korea-U.S summits, if Republic of Korea, North Korea and the U.S. make an unwavering commitment to continue the dialogue and pool their wisdom, there will be no obstacle that we cannot surmount. With the wish of all Koreans - to complete peace and pave the road to prosperity and unification – as our historic task, we will unwaveringly walk that road.”

President Moon also emphasized that the peace process on the Korean Peninsula is still moving forward.

“Peace on the Korean Peninsula is a matter of our survival. It is inextricably bound up not only with the people’s survival and safety but also with the economy,” President Moon said. “We have designed and led the peace-building process on the Korean Peninsula in accordance with what we should do and what we can do, as the owners of the destiny of the peninsula. Meanwhile, we have reached where we are today by developing inter-Korean relations and promoting the enhancement of relations between North Korea and the U.S.”

“The government is willing to do its utmost to handle what we need to do. The government will carry out its responsibilities and roles to establish peace and order on the Korean Peninsula, including creating a virtuous circle of inter-Korean relations and relations between North Korea and the U.S., and strengthening the support and cooperation from the international community,” he also added.  

For this reason, President Moon plans to prepare to hold a fourth inter-Korean summit, including selecting a special envoy to send to North Korea. Potential candidates include presidential National Security Office (NSO) chief Chung Eui-yong and National Intelligence Service (NIS) chief Suh Hoon. Considering the need for continuity in the inter-Korean dialog, the President has primarily been considering those who were separately sent to North Korea as a special envoy last March and September, before the inter-Korean summit took place.