North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and outgoing South Korean President Moon Jae-in have exchanged letters, with Pyongyang’s strongman thanking his counterpart for his tireless efforts to improve bilateral relations. his country, the KCNA, against the backdrop of tensions that have risen again due to North Korean weapons tests.
The exchange of letters is an exception to the rule of tension in bilateral relations following the failure of the North Korea-US summit in Hanoi in 2019. This year the situation worsened as Pyongyang launched intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) last month. which he had unilaterally declared in 2017.
Mr Moon’s services have confirmed that “letters of friendship” have been exchanged with Mr Kim. On his own, the South Korean president pledged to continue reunification efforts, based on joint announcements at their 2018 meetings, despite the “difficult situation,” according to the KCNA.
In his response, Kim stressed that those “historic” meetings gave the peoples of the two countries “hope for the future”, and both sides agreed that their relations could improve if “tireless efforts” continued. to this end.
“Kim Jong Un appreciated the efforts and efforts made by Moon Jae-in (…) until the last days of his term”, noted the North Korean official news agency, describing the letters exchanged as “an expression of deep trust”. of the two leaders.
Mr Moon has focused on improving inter-Korean relations from the outset; he has contributed to the unprecedented meetings between Kim and then-US President Donald Trump in 2018 and 2019. Korea in 2018, promises of peace and reconciliation were exchanged; but the situation has gradually deteriorated in recent years. Pyongyang has gone so far as to threaten to demolish infrastructure built by South Korean industries as part of joint economic initiatives.
The two leaders made renewed efforts to improve things, repeatedly exchanging letters last year. But no tangible progress has been made. Pyongyang then sharply criticized Seoul’s “two meters and two weights” in terms of its military equipment programs.
Tensions are likely to escalate further in the near future, with fears that Pyongyang may resume nuclear testing.
The U.S. and South Korean armed forces also began their annual joint military exercises this week, which North Korea has strongly condemned as rehearsals for the war.
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