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KOREA

Deepening the Roots of Peace, Branching Out to the World

“For a people-centered diplomacy, Korea must expand its diplomatic horizons and engage in pragmatic diplomacy. In addition to maintaining strong diplomatic relations with allies, Korea must diversify its diplomatic sphere.”

- President Moon Jae-in, addressing overseas mission chiefs during a meeting on Dec. 18, 2017 -

Written by Kim Samuel    Photos courtesy of Cheong Wa Dae

President Moon Jae-in and the directors of Foreign Affairs have a banquet dinner at Cheong Wa Dae on Dec. 18, 2017.

TOP 3 POLICIES
First year under Korea’s new Moon Jae-in administration

This section provides an overview of successful policies implemented by the Moon Jae-in administration in commemoration of its first anniversary on May 10, 2018. In prior months, we wrote about Communication and Peace. This month we focus on Diplomacy.

[ DIPLOMACY ]

Achieving Peace With Strong Allies

President Moon Jae-in was congratulated by U.S. President Donald Trump on winning the presidential election. Beginning with this phone call, the two leaders have held three meetings and 13 phone calls over the past year alone. The Korea-U.S. summit in June last year was just 51 days after President Moon’s inauguration. Following a phone call between President Moon and President Trump on Jan. 4, the two countries decided to delay joint military drills until after the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, and maintained an open stance toward talks with North Korea.

In addition to the meeting with the U.S. president, President Moon also met with a U.S. delegation of high-ranking officials to further discuss denuclearization and peace on the Korean Peninsula. Under the new administration, Korea has responded strongly to the North’s missile threats, and managed to bring Pyeongyang back to dialogue through sanctions and deterrence.

President Moon Jae-in and U.S. President Donald Trump shake hands before the start of their bilateral summit at Cheong Wa Dae on Nov. 7, 2017.

Restoring Korea-China Relations

Since his inauguration last year, President Moon Jae-in has held three summits with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The two leaders have worked to improve bilateral ties by holding meetings at the G20 Summit in July and at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting in November. The most recent meeting was in December, when President Moon made a four-day state visit to China.

As a result of the summits, the two countries issued a joint statement on the results of bilateral meetings on Oct. 31 and agreed to improve Korea-China ties. Four principles were established to secure peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, and a hotline between the two leaders was installed. The meetings helped to resolve the conflict surrounding THAAD missiles (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense), and paved the way toward tighter cooperation and mutual development.

President Moon Jae-in and Chinese President Xi Jinping attend the Cooperative Agreement Ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Dec. 14, 2017.

Active Expansion of Diplomatic Horizons

President Moon has been exerting efforts to diversify Korea’s diplomatic sphere. Following the establishment of the Presidential Committee on Northern Economic Cooperation in August, Korea announced the New Northern Policy and its “nine bridge strategy” at the Eastern Economic Forum in September. The government plans to strengthen economic cooperation across Russia and Northeast Asia in nine sectors, namely, shipbuilding, seaports, Arctic shipping routes, gas, railroads, power generation, labor, agriculture and, finally, fisheries.

In November last year, Korea unveiled its New Southern Policy at the Indonesia-Korea Business Forum. In March, President Moon visited Vietnam and the UAE as part of efforts to expand Korea’s diplomatic horizons to cover ASEAN, the Middle East and the region surrounding the Indian Ocean.

It is hoped that President Moon’s efforts to strengthen diplomatic ties will secure peace on the Korean Peninsula and benefit the people.

President Moon Jae-in and business leaders from South Korea and Indonesia at Indonesia-Korea Business Forum held in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Nov. 9, 2017
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