 |
| President Moon Jae-in is giving a commemorative remark at the 6th West Sea Protection Day ceremony held at the Cheonjabong and Nojeokbongships of the 2nd Fleet Command in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-do on the afternoon of the 26th. 2021.3.26/News1 © News1 Reporter Yoo Seung-gwan |
Regarding the recent provocation of ballistic missiles in North Korea, President Moon Jae-in emphasized’inter-Korean dialogue’, while US President Joe Biden announced a hard-line action, and the ROK-US position on the North Korean issue is showing a temperature difference.
In addition, North Korea adheres to the principle of “Gangdaegang”, and the current situation poses a considerable burden on restarting the “peace process on the Korean peninsula” for President Moon, who has only one year left in office.
President Moon attended the ‘6th West Sea Protection Day’ ceremony held at the Navy’s 2nd Fleet Command in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-do on the previous day (26th). He said, “I am well aware that the public’s concern is great, but now is the time for both the South and North America to try to continue the dialogue.”
President Moon’s remarks on that day appear to reflect concerns that North Korea’s missile provocation could have a negative effect at the time the Biden administration’s review of new North Korea policies is in the final stage.
However, rather than asking for direct responsibility, it is an analysis that it has avoided the level of stimulating North Korea with a fundamental level of concern. Instead, it can be interpreted as emphasizing’inter-Korean dialogue’ and re-emphasizing the commitment to the peace process on the Korean Peninsula.
This is contrary to President Biden’s announcement of a tough response on the 25th (local time).
At the first official press conference after taking office, President Biden said, “The specific missile tested (by North Korea) violates UN Security Council Resolution 1718.” “If you choose to increase this tension, there will be a corresponding response.”
This emphasized that it is a measure that “corresponds to” the intensity of North Korea’s provocations, suggesting that it can take tough measures, including additional sanctions against North Korea, and is a subject that feels a temperature difference from President Moon’s remarks.
Moreover, even with President Biden’s hard-line message, the tensions surrounding the Korean peninsula are gradually increasing as North Korea is confronted with’invasive rights to self-defense’. According to the Chosun Central News Agency, Lee Byung-cheol, secretary of the Labor Party Central Committee and vice-chairman of the Central Military Committee, condemned the US President Biden’s remarks on’violation of the UN resolution’ as “an outright infringement and provocation of the state’s right to self-defense.” .
In this regard, the Blue House still seems to spare no official comments. A key member of the Blue House met with reporters at the Chunchu Hall the day before to receive questions about the additional position on the North Korean missile launch. “I will inform you if there is a position in the future.” I know that it was announced by the Standing Committee of the Security Council)” he replied.
Inside and outside the Blue House, it is expected that the issue will be dealt with in depth at the meeting of the heads of the Korea-U.S.-Japan security office, scheduled to attend next week, head of the National Security Office, Seo-hoon, to Washington.
In particular, as Japan strongly opposes North Korea’s missile launch, saying, “It violates the UN resolution,” attention is paid to what kind of message the ROK, US, and Japan will come and go.