U.S. President Donald Trump has responded positively to President Moon Jae-in's proposal to restart inter-Korean joint projects as a way to speed up the denuclearization process.
During a late night phone call this week,... the leaders also agreed to keep in close contact before and after the summit in Hanoi.
Shin Se-min reports.
U.S. President Donald Trump has shown a positive response to President Moon Jae-in's offer to resume joint inter-Korean economic cooperation to speed up Pyeongyang's denuclearization process.
South Korea's presidential spokesperson said Trump's reaction was positive toward President Moon's offer-- something that was aimed at giving more bargaining chips to his American counterpart.
Earlier on Tuesday night, leaders of South Korea and the U.S. held a phone conversation-- during which President Moon said Seoul is "determined to take up the role if President Trump asks,... if that's the way to lessen the U.S. burden."
Although President Moon did not specify-- economic engagements with the North could mean anything from reconnecting railways and roads between the divided Koreas to tour packages to visit the North-- things that have been on ice as the U.S. kept its suffocating sanctions in place.
It's the first time President Moon has floated the idea of economic concessions to boost the prospects for a successful summit,... and also the first time he has made the proposal since the South Korean leader's call for European support received a stony response late last year.
And the presidential spokesperson added that Presidents Moon and Trump had agreed to keep in close contact before and after the Hanoi meeting next week,... with the U.S. President even dangling the idea of arranging another face-to-face between the allies in the near future.
Shin Se-min, Arirang News.
