President Moon calls for joint action with China to reduce fine dust
South Korean President Moon Jae-in ordered his government Wednesday to work together with China to fight fine dust pollution, his office Cheong Wa Dae said. South Korea has suffered from the worst particulate matter pollution this week with a large portion of the fine dust believed to be blown from China. The president told […]
North Korea will ‘definitely’ be denuclearized: Moon
President Moon Jae-in reiterated his confidence in diplomatic efforts to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula Tuesday despite the fruitless summit between North Korea and the United States last week. “Should we consistently pursue peace with firm determination, denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and permanent peace will definitely come,” the president said in the commission ceremony of […]
Moon: Trump-Kim summit to produce ‘specific, substantial’ outcomes
President Moon Jae-in expressed the hope Monday that U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un can build off their first meeting to make “more specific and substantial progress” at their second summit, which he believes could help advance inter-Korean relations. “Beyond bringing a lasting peace with no threat of war threat, the […]
Forecasting Korea’s future
The French have two expressions that capture the essence of Kim Jong-un’s New Year address. First, there’s “deja vu” ― or maybe “deja vu all over again,” as the American baseball player Yogi Berra famously put it. And then there’s “plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose” ― “the more things change, the more […]
Moon expands communication with chaebol
Approval ratings of President Moon Jae-in remained relatively high in the first week of this year on the back of public approval for his signature “engagement-focused” North Korea policy. But his lackluster and not-that-impressive domestic policy, particularly the apparent failure of its economic policies after its decision to hike the minimum wage and cut the […]
After Singapore, Can Sizzle Be Replaced With Steak?
WHAT can face-to-face diplomacy between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un achieve? It is wisest not to expect a revolutionary change in Trump’s approach and instead for him to play to his strengths: ceremony and personal relationships. On substance, the South Korean-led process should be allowed to take the lead […]
Moon Jae-in and the Politics of Reform in South Korea
One year and five months have passed since South Korean President Moon Jae-in took office. During this period, Moon’s democratic leadership style and spirit of service have lifted public morale and salved past wounds. In his inaugural address, he voiced his desire to become a president who communicates with the public in order to create […]
Moon ratifies Pyongyang Declaration
President Moon Jae-in ratified an agreement signed between him and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at their third summit in Pyongyang last month. “Moon ratified the Pyongyang Joint Declaration. An official announcement will soon follow,” a Cheong Wa Dae official said. As a procedural step for the ratification, the Cabinet earlier approved the declaration, as well […]
Kim welcomes Moon
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un welcomed South Korean President Moon Jae-in with a big smile at Sunan International Airport in Pyongyang, Tuesday. Kim and Moon embraced and flashed wide smiles, after Moon and his wife Kim Jung-sook walked out of the presidential plane at around 10:08 a.m. The two leaders will hold formal talks from […]
Indonesian President Joko Widodo Visiting South Korea
During the Asian Games, President Joko Widodo announced that the 2032 Olympic Games will be held in Indonesia. I would like to show full support to this. Not only me, but Koreans, other Asians, and friends all around the world will try their bests to Indonesia successfully host the Olympic Games. Speaking from my […]