Leaders need to build trust, form broad consensus
President Moon Jae-in will leave for Washington today for his first summit with U.S.
President Donald Trump.
The summit will be an occasion for the two countries to reaffirm their steadfast alliance and determine its future course. The results of the summit could change the overall tone of their bilateral relations and affect the security situation on the Korean Peninsula.
During a luncheon meeting with former Korean ambassadors to the U.S. Monday, Moon said he would focus on building friendship and trust with his American counterpart rather than trying to get tangible results over specific issues. Moon's comment indicates his resolve to make the first summit successful by highlighting the significance of the Seoul-Washington alliance. This might be desirable, considering the fear that the two leaders could show disharmony in the course of discussing specific issues.
True, there are pending issues Moon and Trump should tackle through their summit.
Topping the agenda is to produce stepped-up coordination through which the allies will halt North Korea's nuclear and missile programs and ultimately lead to the abolition of its nuclear arsenal. Seoul and Washington share the goal of denuclearizing the North but differ in their approaches.
Moon, Seoul's new liberal head of state, highlights the need for dialogue with the reclusive state while underscoring the importance of sanctions and pressure. On the contrary, the hawkish Trump prefers to apply stronger pressure while voicing ''maximum pressure and engagement.'' Americans' negative sentiment toward North Korea has worsened since Otto Warmbier died just six days after being released from the North in a vegetative state.
The two leaders might disagree on the delayed deployment of a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery in South Korea. Seoul's new Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said Monday South Korea will not reverse its THAAD decision, but it is true Americans feel displeased with the delay here. This sentiment is reflected in a letter sent to Trump last week by 18 U.S. senators calling for a swift and full deployment of the U.S. missile defense system.
Moon needs to be wary of the possible backlash if he continues to adhere to his THAAD ''strategic ambiguity'' between the United States and China. The allies need to put an end to the THAAD controversy clearly through their upcoming summit.
Another bone of contention is whether Trump will call for renegotiating the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement. Moon is tasked with persuading the real estate magnate who claims the pact has "killed" many American jobs.
Both Moon and Trump are just starting their terms, so they will have many more opportunities to meet again. One can just hope they will build trust and form a broad consensus through the summit.
President Moon Jae-in will leave for Washington today for his first summit with U.S.
President Donald Trump.
The summit will be an occasion for the two countries to reaffirm their steadfast alliance and determine its future course. The results of the summit could change the overall tone of their bilateral relations and affect the security situation on the Korean Peninsula.
During a luncheon meeting with former Korean ambassadors to the U.S. Monday, Moon said he would focus on building friendship and trust with his American counterpart rather than trying to get tangible results over specific issues. Moon's comment indicates his resolve to make the first summit successful by highlighting the significance of the Seoul-Washington alliance. This might be desirable, considering the fear that the two leaders could show disharmony in the course of discussing specific issues.
True, there are pending issues Moon and Trump should tackle through their summit.
Topping the agenda is to produce stepped-up coordination through which the allies will halt North Korea's nuclear and missile programs and ultimately lead to the abolition of its nuclear arsenal. Seoul and Washington share the goal of denuclearizing the North but differ in their approaches.
Moon, Seoul's new liberal head of state, highlights the need for dialogue with the reclusive state while underscoring the importance of sanctions and pressure. On the contrary, the hawkish Trump prefers to apply stronger pressure while voicing ''maximum pressure and engagement.'' Americans' negative sentiment toward North Korea has worsened since Otto Warmbier died just six days after being released from the North in a vegetative state.
The two leaders might disagree on the delayed deployment of a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery in South Korea. Seoul's new Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said Monday South Korea will not reverse its THAAD decision, but it is true Americans feel displeased with the delay here. This sentiment is reflected in a letter sent to Trump last week by 18 U.S. senators calling for a swift and full deployment of the U.S. missile defense system.
Moon needs to be wary of the possible backlash if he continues to adhere to his THAAD ''strategic ambiguity'' between the United States and China. The allies need to put an end to the THAAD controversy clearly through their upcoming summit.
Another bone of contention is whether Trump will call for renegotiating the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement. Moon is tasked with persuading the real estate magnate who claims the pact has "killed" many American jobs.
Both Moon and Trump are just starting their terms, so they will have many more opportunities to meet again. One can just hope they will build trust and form a broad consensus through the summit.
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