Korean leaders Kim Jong Un and Moon Jae- in exchanged individual letters today, the North’s state news firm KCNA reported. This file image reveals the 2 leaders at the end of an inter-Korean top in 2018.
Pyeongyang Press Corps|Getty Images News|Getty Images
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reacted to an individual letter from outbound South Korean President Moon Jae- in this week.
According to the North’s state news firm KCNA, Moon stated he wishes to make joint statements from the 2 sides “the foundation for the reunification” even after he steps down as president. Kim “appreciated the pains and effort taken” by Moon, the report stated.
“The exchange of the personal letters between the top leaders of the North and the South is an expression of their deep trust,” KCNA stated.
Moon’s representative stated the president asked Kim to stay dedicated to cooperation, which discussion ought to get rid of the “era of confrontation,” Reuters reported.
Kim stated “it is our achievement that we signed historic declaration and agreements, which will serve as the guiding post for inter-Korean relations,” representative Park Kyung- mi informed NBC News.
“President Moon wished for the resumption of the U.S.-[North Korea] talks at the soonest,” she included.
The news comes days after the reclusive North performed yet another rocket test, and weeks prior to inbound South Korean President Yoon Suk- yeol’s inauguration on May 10.
Relations in between the 2 sides at first warmed under Moon, who held 3 tops with Kim in2018 But ties degraded greatly, and the North threatened military action. It likewise exploded its joint intermediary workplace with South Korea in 2020.
We should not leap to conclusions that, by extension, this so-called resumption of exchanges in between the leaders of the South and the North will lead on to the next administration.
Shawn Ho
Associate research study fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies
The letters are a method to summarize the efforts over the last 5 years, and “the hope is that some aspects of the engagements” in between the 2 sides can continue, according to Shawn Ho, an associate research study fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies.
But as Moon’s governmental term pertains to an end, Ho warned, “we shouldn’t jump to conclusions that, by extension, this so-called resumption of exchanges between the leaders of the South and the North will lead on to the next administration.”
Yoon’s federal government is most likely to take a “hugely different” hardline technique with a “totally different set of key players,” he informed CNBC.
The brand-new administration will wish to concentrate on enhancing cooperation with the U.S. and Japan, he stated. “I expect some tensions to rise in the coming months.”
On North Korea’s side, the letters likewise do not represent a shift to diplomacy, according to Leif-Eric Easley, a teacher at Ewha University inSeoul He kept in mind that North Korea has actually prepared military display screens.
Still, he stated the friendly interaction in between the 2 sides is “a reminder that inter-Korean relations are not entirely confrontational and should include dialogue.”
