Chung Dongyoung: "Trump's Suspension of South Korea–U.S. Drills Is a Strategic, Not Impulsive, Decision"
Minister of Unification Chung Dong-young stated on September 10th regarding U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to suspend the South Korea-U.S. joint military drills, "There are interpretations that President Trump's decision is impulsive or for domestic political purposes, but in my view, it is a strategic judgment," adding, "If a North Korea-U.S. summit is realized, we must act as peacemakers."
Minister Chung made these remarks while attending a government interpellation session on foreign affairs, unification, and security held at the National Assembly that afternoon, in response to a related question from Assemblyman Park Sun-won of the Democratic Party of Korea. He said, "(President Trump's decision) was an answer to the last letter sent by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un seven years ago, in August 2019."
The 'letter' mentioned by Minister Chung refers to the correspondence sent by Chairman Kim Jong Un to President Trump on August 5, 2019. According to the full text released by the Korea-U.S. Club, Chairman Kim wrote in the letter, "I hope you will contact me again after the military games and war drills with South Korea have ended."
Minister Chung continued, "President Trump has expressed his intention to hold direct talks between North Korea and the United States since ten years ago, and even during the APEC summit last October, at a summit meeting with President Lee Jaemyung, he spoke about the need to change the war dynamics on the Korean Peninsula."
He then added, "(The suspension of this South Korea-U.S. joint military drill) is a strategic judgment by President Trump made in response after seven years of hiatus."
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Minister Chung further commented on the government's future response, saying, "Until the North Korea-U.S. summit takes place, we must act as pacemakers, but after that, we need to switch our posture and become peacemakers." He emphasized, "Within the government, there is a need for an in-depth strategic blueprint to create a 'peace system basket.'"
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