문 대통령, "북미정상, 통 크게 주고받는 담대한 결단 기대... 한반도 문제 우리가 주인공"
Aside from that phoner with Trump.
President Moon Jae-in called on the leaders of North Korea and the U.S. to make big, bold decisions ahead of the historic summit in Singapore.
Our chief Cheongwadae correspondent Moon Connyoung tells us more.
"I hope the two leaders will make big, bold decisions that generously answer to each others' demands so that the wish for a new age upon the Korean peninsula from those around the world comes true."
A big give and take by North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump... is what the South Korean president who's been a major driver of rapproachement with the North is calling for on the eve of what he's referred to as a historic turning point from war to peace.
Mr. Moon's remarks during a weekly meeting of his top aides come as U.S. negotiators met with their North Korean counterparts one last time to try to nail down final details for the first-ever summit between a sitting U.S. president and a North Korean leader.
The U.S. team, led by Sung Kim, a longtime State Department diplomat who now serves as the U.S. ambassador to the Philippines had held at least five sessions with the Pyongyang delegation over the past two weeks at the demilitarized zone in Korea.
But, the two sides reportedly have struggled to close the gap between the U.S. position on North Korean denuclearization; which means it would immediately dismantle its weapons program, ship nuclear warheads out and allow international inspectors to verify the results.
North Korea likely envisions a staged process, where each concession from the North is met with something from the U.S.
Sanctions relief, economic aid, a formal peace treaty to end the 1950 to 53 Korean war and formal diplomatic ties could all be potential sweeteners to any deal.
Nonetheless, the South Korean president expressed confidence that the historic Kim, Trump summit will be a success... adding South Korea should and will remain the driver in all endeavors regarding the Korean Peninsula.
"We will continue to do our utmost until the Korean Peninsula is completely denuclearized and a lasting peace regime is established. I ask for the Korean people's support to ensure under no circumstance we lose the attitude and determination that we are the leaders when it comes to Peninsula issues."
"The South Korean president who's been touted by many for brilliantly brokering the talks between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S President Donald Trump, is following the summit from more than 45-hundred kilometers away but keeping his country, and rightfully so, in the equation... as he hopes to complete the journey that he started... a formal end to a near seven-decade war... a path to peace.
Moon Connyoung, Arirang News, the Blue House."
