[ad_1]
The South Korean president on Tuesday urged North Korea and the United States to "take bold decisions" to break a growing diplomatic stalemate over the North's nuclear ambitions, saying it would continue to play the role of mediator.
President Moon Jae-in's comments come a few days before his meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for the third time this year to discuss how to achieve denuclearization and peace on the Korean peninsula. Moon said the summit should lead to another "big step" towards denuclearization.
The talks come at a crucial moment in global diplomacy, which is currently blocked by recriminations between Washington and Pyongyang over how to implement the commitments made at the summit between Kim and President Donald Trump in June.
At a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Moon said Kim and Trump needed to think broadly and "make bold decisions" to advance diplomacy and bring North Korea to dismantle its nuclear arsenal.
"North Korea must proceed with its nuclear dismantling and the United States must take a corresponding step," Moon said. "In such a process, the two countries must give up their deep-seated mutual mistrust caused by their 70 years of hostile relations."
North Korea dismantled its test sites for nuclear engines and rockets, but US officials demanded more serious measures. Kim reportedly said his efforts should be reciprocal through corresponding US measures such as a joint declaration to end the 1950-53 Korean War.
Moon said South Korea had no choice but to mediate between the two countries to promote dialogue, saying Trump and Kim had asked him to play such a role. He wants "real talks" between Washington and Pyongyang to resume soon.
During a visit to Seoul on Tuesday, Steve Biegun, the new US special envoy on North Korea, stressed the need to maintain nuclear diplomacy.
"We have a lot of work to do, but President Trump, President Moon and President Kim have also created a tremendous opportunity, and we must do everything in our power to make the most of this opportunity," he said. Mr. Biegun. the beginning of his meeting with South Korean nuclear envoy Lee Do-hoon.
South Korean officials said Kim had recently told them that he remained attached to a nuclear-free Korean peninsula and that he still had faith in Trump. The White House said on Monday that Trump had received a request from Kim to schedule a second meeting between them to follow up on their June summit and that planning is underway to achieve it.
But we do not know if the blocked nuclear diplomacy will be resolved anytime soon. During her previous summits with Trump and Moon, Kim made vague disarmament commitments without revealing a detailed roadmap or timetable for her denuclearization process.
The Korean authorities intend to hold military talks on Thursday and are trying to open a liaison office in a North Korean border town on Friday, Seoul officials said as part of the effort of cooperation between the rivals before the summit.
Thursday's military talks will address issues aimed at easing tensions along their border, such as the disarmament of a jointly controlled area in Panmunjom, the removal of front-line guard posts and the joint search for soldiers. missing during the Korean War.
When Kim met with South Korean representatives last week, the parties agreed to try to find ways to boost mutual trust and prevent armed clashes between their armies, according to South Korean officials. .
