President Moon Jae-in speaks in a briefing with officials from the ministries of foreign affairs and of unification, at the Government Complex Seoul on Aug. 23. (Cheong Wa Dae)

By Sohn JiAe

President Moon Jae-in has urged officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Unification to play active roles in resolving North Korean issues and in promoting diplomatic cooperation with the international community toward this goal. 

His remarks came during a policy meeting at the Government Complex Seoul on Aug. 23 where representatives from both ministries briefed President Moon on the North Korea policies that they have been implementing and that they plan to carry out. 

“The establishment of peace on the Korean Peninsula is the national goal that we prioritize and, also, is the challenge we face that is directly connected to world peace,” the president said. “Alongside the robust Korea-U.S. alliance, we need to address North Korean issues more actively by means of cooperative diplomacy with China, Japan and Russia, too.” 

Stressing the need to continue expanding the reach of Korean diplomacy around the world, he said that, “The government should go beyond diplomatic relations with the so-called `four powers` and increase cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Europe, the Pacific region and the Middle East.” 

After being briefed by the Ministry of Unification on its core policies, including the resumption of dialogue with Pyongyang and the agreement on a consensus for peaceful inter-Korean unification, President Moon said that he expects the ministry to play a leading and active role in dealing with the regime. 

“Spring comes without fail even after a frigid winter,” said President Moon as he instructed officials to prepare policies in the case that inter-Korean ties are enhanced. 

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