South Korea’s authorities are thankful to Russia, China and Japan for their assistance in the process of the Korean Peninsula’s nuclear disarmament and will take active steps for progress in this direction, South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon said on Thursday.
“Countries across the world should intensify their work to achieve denuclearization and maintain sustainable peace on the Korean Peninsula. I thank China, Russia and Japan for their support and I also count on their more constructive role,” Lee Nak-yeon told an opening ceremony of the key part of the Boao Forum for Asia in south China’s Hainan Province. “In our turn, we will constantly make efforts in this direction.”
According to the prime minister, imperialism and the Cold War have divided the Korean Peninsula and there is the need to overcome negative consequences of this split these days. Over the past year, several successful meetings have been held to restore ties between Seoul and Pyongyang.
“We see a positive tendency towards peace but unfortunately, the situation has reached a deadlock,” he stressed, speaking about the failed Hanoi summit between North Korea and the United States. “However, I’m convinced that our peninsula is heading towards peace.”
The second summit between the United States and North Korea was held in Hanoi on February 27-28. Ahead of the meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong-un stated that Pyongyang and Washington were overcoming mistrust and problems together, while US President Donald Trump vowed to fulfill North Korea’s huge economic potential. However, the sides refused to sign a joint document, agreeing to continue dialogue. The schedule of events was significantly changed.