South Korea's Moon Brings Shift on North Korea: QuickTake Q&A
Moon Seeks to Change Foreign Policy Toward North Korea
Moon Jae-in, South Korea’s new president, says he’s open to talks with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un and has promised to rein in the family-run conglomerates that dominate the economy. Moon won a May 9 election triggered by the impeachment of Park Geun-hye. The victory by the son of North Korean refugees -- also the runner-up to Park in 2012 -- ends nine years of conservative rule and follows street protests over the ties between government and big business.
Expect a less hard line approach. Unlike his predecessor, Moon has long said he’s prepared to meet Kim under the right conditions. That’s a position U.S. President Donald Trump has also espoused recently. Like Trump, Moon sees the policy of the past nine years as a failure and wants China to take more action to rein in its neighbor and ally. He favors a two-track approach of sanctions and talks. Moon has fended off accusations he is too soft by touting his background as a special forces veteran in South Korea’s military.