South Korea president calls on China's Xi to do more on North Korea nuclear program

Record ID: 896629

  • Title: South Korea president calls on China's Xi to do more on North Korea nuclear program
  • Date: 22nd June 2017
  • Summary: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (JUNE 22, 2017) (REUTERS) PRESIDENT OF SOUTH KOREA, MOON JAE-IN, WALKING INTO ROOM AND SHAKING HANDS WITH REUTERS ASIA EDITOR, JEAN YOON / PEOPLE TAKING SEAT (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) PRESIDENT OF SOUTH KOREA, MOON JAE-IN, SAYING: "I believe that China is making efforts to stop North Korea from making additional provocations. Yet it is also true that there are no tangible results as of yet." YOON AND MOON SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) PRESIDENT OF SOUTH KOREA, MOON JAE-IN, SAYING: "China provides the most economic assistance to North Korea. Without the cooperation of China in international sanctions done by the U.N. Security Council resolutions, these sanctions will not be effective at all." INTERVIEW IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) PRESIDENT OF SOUTH KOREA, MOON JAE-IN, SAYING: "When it comes to reining in on North Korea's behaviour, there is much room for China to play a role, and this is what I plan to discuss with President Xi later in a very frank and open manner." YOON SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) PRESIDENT OF SOUTH KOREA, MOON JAE-IN, SAYING: "But currently our view is that some of these measures have been lifted while many are still being continued. If I meet with President Xi, I will ask so that, I will ask for him to lift all of these measures." INTERVIEW IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) PRESIDENT OF SOUTH KOREA, MOON JAE-IN, SAYING: "North Korea is not yet capable in such aspects. But judging from the speed of North Korea's advancements in nuclear and missile technologies, I believe they will acquire such capability in the near future." YOON SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) PRESIDENT OF SOUTH KOREA, MOON JAE-IN, SAYING: "I believe that it must be strong enough to prevent North Korea from making any additional provocations and also to make North Korea realize that they are going down the wrong path." YOON LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) PRESIDENT OF SOUTH KOREA, MOON JAE-IN, SAYING: "I believe if President Trump continues to place this issue as the top of his priorities, then I am sure we will be able to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue." YOON AND MOON TALKING (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) PRESIDENT OF SOUTH KOREA, MOON JAE-IN, SAYING: "For example, the exchange of higher-level information and cooperation in accordance with the international community on international sanctions on North Korea, I believe these are the ways that Japan can help us as we move along." INTERVIEW IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) PRESIDENT OF SOUTH KOREA, MOON JAE-IN, SAYING: "Japan does not make full efforts to resolve some issues of history between our two countries, including the comfort women issue." INTERVIEW IN PROGRESS
  • Embargoed: 6th July 2017 11:25
  • Keywords: South Korea China North Korea nuclear programme Korean peninsula Moon Jae-in
  • Location: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
  • City: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
  • Country: South Korea
  • Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA0016MCZY9X
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: South Korean President Moon Jae-in said on Thursday (June 22) China should do more to rein in North Korea's nuclear program and he would call on President Xi Jinping to 'lift all measures' against South Korean companies taken in retaliation against Seoul's decision to host a U.S. anti-missile defense system.
    In an interview with Reuters ahead of his trip to Washington next week for a summit with U.S. President Donald Trump, Moon said 'strong' sanctions should be imposed if North Korea tests an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) or conducts a sixth nuclear test.
    North Korea will acquire the technology to deploy a nuclear-tipped ballistic missile capable of hitting the mainland United States "in the not too distant future," Moon said at an exclusive interview with Reuters at the presidential Blue House in Seoul.
    He also stressed China's role in resolving North Korean nuclear problems.
    His comments echoed that of Trump's who said in tweet earlier this week China's efforts to use its leverage with Pyongyang had failed.
    Moon was elected in May pledging to take a more moderate approach to the North and engage the reclusive country in dialogue, in addition to pressure and sanctions to impede its defiant pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.
    Moon said he hopes to hold talks with Xi at the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany next month, and will urge him to take steps to ease measures against South Korean companies, triggered by the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system development in the South.
    Moon also said he has "high expectations" for the upcoming summit with Trump next week and said the priority the two leaders have placed on North Korea has raised the possibility that the nuclear issue will be resolved.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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