Korean leaders trade pleasant letters in uncommon break from tensions

North Korean chief Kim Jong Un has exchanged letters with outgoing South Korean President Moon Jae-in and thanked him for making an attempt to enhance relations, state media KCNA reported on Friday, amid rigidity over Pyongyang’s weapons checks.

The trade of letters got here towards a backdrop of strained cross-border ties since a failed North Korea-US summit in 2019, and flaring rigidity after Pyongyang launched intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) final month, breaking a self-imposed 2017 moratorium.

Moon despatched a letter on Wednesday and promised to proceed to attempt to lay a basis for unification primarily based on joint declarations reached at summits in 2018, regardless of the “difficult situation,” the North’s official KCNA information company stated. Moon’s workplace confirmed that he had exchanged “letters of friendship” with Kim.

In his letter, Moon stated the “era of confrontation” needs to be overcome with dialogue, and that inter-Korean engagement is now a activity for the subsequent administration, spokeswoman Park Kyung-mee informed a briefing. Moon additionally expressed hope for the swift resumption of US-North Korea denuclearisation talks.

Kim stated in his reply on Thursday that their “historic” summits gave the folks “hope for the future”, and the 2 agreed that ties would develop if each side “make tireless efforts with hope,” KCNA reported. “Kim Jong Un appreciated the pains and effort taken by Moon Jae-in for the great cause of the nation until the last days of his term of office,” KCNA stated, including the trade of letters was an “expression of their deep trust.”

The trade got here as US Special Representative for North Korea, Sung Kim, was in Seoul for talks this week with South Korean officers. Sung Kim has stated he’s open to sitting down with the North at any time with out preconditions, however it was unclear whether or not Moon’s letter particularly proposed a gathering.

Legacy at stake

Moon staked his legacy on bettering inter-Korean ties and helped organize unprecedented conferences between Kim Jong Un after which US President Donald Trump in 2018 and 2019.

The three summits held by Kim and Moon in 2018 promised peace and reconciliation, however relations have deteriorated in recent times, with the North warning of damaging motion and demolishing amenities constructed by South Korean corporations for joint financial initiatives.

The two leaders briefly sought to fix ties final 12 months by a number of exchanges of letters, however little progress has been made as Pyongyang criticised Seoul’s “double standards” over its weapons improvement.

Kim’s feedback go away open the opportunity of Moon enjoying a job as an envoy after he leaves workplace, however some analysts stated the letters might not be all excellent news.

“I cannot claim to know of Kim’s personal intentions in sending the letter, but I don’t think it will have a positive impact on Moon’s reputation,” stated Christopher Green, a Korea specialist at Leiden University within the Netherlands.

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol takes workplace on May 10. He has stated that he’s open to dialogue with the North, however that larger army deterrence and nearer ties with the United States are wanted to counter Pyongyang’s provocations.

Tension sharply escalated after North Korea final month carried out its first full ICBM take a look at since 2017, and there are issues that Pyongyang is making ready to restart nuclear testing. South Korean and US troops started annual joint army workout routines this week, and North Korea routinely denounces such drills as rehearsals for battle.