North Korea must be rewarded for its intention to abandon nuclear weapons: Moon

North Korean President Kim Jong Un is sincere and really wants to give up nuclear weapons, South Korean President Moon Jae-in told a French newspaper, adding that the international community should reward him for the award.

Kim and US President Donald Trump pledged at the landmark summit in Singapore in June to work for denuclearization. The agreement was not detailed enough, however, and there had been little progress since the North refused to declare its weapons and nuclear facilities or to accept a specific timetable.

"This year, I had a long talk with Kim, who convinced me that he had made the strategic decision to give up his nuclear weapon," said Moon at Le Figaro, at a press conference. An interview given before a state visit to Paris.

Moon must meet with President Emmanuel Macron on Monday.

Although Pyongyang has stopped nuclear and missile testing this year, it has not kept its promise to allow international inspections of the dismantling of the Punggye-ri site in May, prompting moving criticism that the initiative could be reversed. .

But Moon said Kim was "sincere, calm and polite" and "frustrated by the persistent mistrust of the international community".

"It is now time to react to these hard-to-accept efforts," Moon said. "We must assure Kim Jong Un that he has made the right decision in deciding on the denuclearization and we must accompany him in his wish for a lasting and solid peace."

Washington wants concrete actions, such as full disclosure of North Korea's nuclear and missile facilities, before responding to Pyongyang's demands, including the official end of the Korean War and the easing of international sanctions.

Moon said he hoped that another Trump-Kim summit would allow the two leaders to go further than the statements they had made at their first meeting in Singapore.

"Declaring the end of the Korean War would be the starting point for the establishment of a peace regime," he said, also calling on the United States to take "reliable corresponding measures" to guarantee the safety of the regime ".

"We could also discuss in the future the relief of sanctions, depending on the progress made in denuclearization," he added.

(Report by Ingrid Melander, edited by David Stamp)

-Reuters

South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un march at a luncheon, in this photo published by the Korean Central News Agency of North Korea, September 21, 2018 . Photo: KCNA via REUTERS