Adam
The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
President Moon Jae-in of South Korea has spoken before the General Assembly of the United Nations in an impassioned call for peace.
He began by stating that his country has only recently come to embrace democracy, but that it has done so peacefully.
The South Korean President made multiple references to the so-called “Candlelight Revolution” which transpired between 2016 and early 2017. The peaceful demonstrations against the corrupt and militant leadership of Park Geun-hye, helped bring about the impeachment of the former President which paved the way for Moon’s election victory in May of this year.
When Moon previously ran for President in 2012, the South Korean intelligence services illegally meddled the election effectively rigging it in favour of Park. Several investigations into this are ongoing.
CONFIRMED: S. Korean National Intelligence Service meddled in 2012 election
Moon went onto quote his political philosophy, restating his slogan that “people come first”. He then turned to the painful legacy of the Korean war which raged between 1950 and 1953 and told of how his father was separated from the rest of his family due to the conflict.
He then stated,
“Though the Cold War has ended…the war remains ongoing in the form of an uneasy ceasefire on the peninsula, the last residual Cold War conflict in East Asia”.
Turning to North Korea, Moon said that “peace is calling”. He urged North Korea to choose peace of its own volition and to give up its nuclear weapons on a voluntary basis.
He further stated that Seoul “does not desire the collapse of North Korea”, nor does his country seek to re-unify the peninsula though the use of force or intimidation. Moon further said that his country is ready to assist North Korea.
In fact, earlier today it was confirmed that South Korea has pledged $8 million in aid to Pyongyang.
Moon Jae-in then turned to the prospect of an East Asian economic and cooperative union in order to foster peace, prosperity and trust in the region.
Such a initiative was recently proposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok which was attended by President Moon as well as a delegation from North Korea.
Two Koreas–One Road: The future of cooperation between North Korea, South Korea and Russia
In a further rebuff to Trump’s threat to “destroy” North Korea while mocking its leader by referencing the Elton John song “Rocket Man”, Moon not only appeared to endorse Vladimir Putin’s proposals for peace in East Asia, but proceeded to quote Ronald Reagan on the subject of peace. Reagan is considered something of a standard-bearer of Donald Trump’s Republican party and by quoting Reagan on the matter of peace, Moon’s statement served to be a subtle but unambitious rejection of Trump’s militarism.
The quote from former US President Reagan reads as follows,
“Peace is not absence of conflict, it is the ability to handle conflict by peaceful means”.
This comes as Donald Trump threatened further sanctions on North Korea, just before the South Korean President approached the podium of the General Assembly.
Moon concluded his speech by praising the Olympics, which South Korea is set to host next year, as an opportunity to promote greater peace and understanding between nations and cultures. He cordially invited people from all nations to his country to celebrate the Olympic games.
The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
Beautiful. — A real break. Moon could have capitulated to US pressure, which would be an admission that, S. Korean elections or not, US-CIA-Park actually won and are in control, or, no, Moon could insist that he is still on track. The US — Trump speaks for himself, as everyone knows — losing “patience” was always about losing its grip on S. Korea. Missiles? Nucs? Nonsense. Moon is on track.
I think he is saying, “there ain’t no sunshine policy” with the barking orange boofhead.
And once again, and as usual, everything depending on the US’ ‘approval’. Send the Yanks packing and start talking to North Korea – a country the US totally destroyed during the Korean War.
Moon will be declared a Putin puppet.
If the CIA can’t get a regime change in North Korea then South Korea will do instead.
Won’t be any Korean Olympics if Trump and his madmen provoke nuclear war on N Korea.
8 dollars in aid? Wow! “Give up nukes”? Not as long as the USA is marauding on the face of the earth. Everyone in nukes! Starting with Cuba and Venezuela.
Moon, if you want peace, tell the US to take their missiles and go away. As long as that big dog keeps barking over your shoulder you have no voice and certainly no peace.
THAAD should never have been allowed into South Korea! NEVER! They must be sent back to the US by this new South Korean President!
North Korea,for many many years wanted to talk with the USA but were refused.America wants division so they can keep weapons in the south.I dont blame NK at all,they saw what happened to others that made deals with the murderous US who then destroyed those countries and reduced them to rubble.