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WORLD NEWS Friday 8 June 2018

In South Korea, hope and doubt ahead of Trump-Kim summit

By JUNG-YOON KIM would only be the start
Associated Press of a long process, Delury
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) stressed.
— The on-again, off- Reducing the threat of
again meeting between conflict is the initial goal,
President Donald Trump he said, which would
and North Korean leader be followed by cultural,
Kim Jong Un has been an humanitarian and
emotional roller coaster for economic steps.
South Koreans, who now "A successful Singapore
await Tuesday's historic (meeting) gives more room
summit with both hope and for President Moon and
doubt. Chairman Kim Jong Un to
The hope is that move forward in terms of
improved relations inter-Korean reconciliation
between Washington and cooperation," he said.
and Pyongyang will ease For now, Moon seems to
tensions and dispel the have public backing, with
threat of war, which has a Gallup Korea survey
hung over the region for In this Sept. 18, 2017, file photo provided by South Korea Defense Ministry, U.S. Air Force B-1B last week measuring his
more than a half-century. bombers, F-35B stealth fighter jets and South Korean F-15K fighter jets fly over the Korean Peninsula. approval rating at 75
But having seen North Associated Press percent.q
Korea go back on its word
in the past, such as when Moon took office in May
it broke a previous nuclear 2017 with a pledge to
pact in 2002, South Koreans seek improved relations
remain cautious about the and ultimately peace with
sudden breeze of peace North Korea. In April, he
blowing across their divided met the North's leader, Kim
peninsula. Jong Un, for talks at the
"North Korea's willingness for Demilitarized Zone dividing
talks seems clear now. The their countries and the two
problem is that we are not set foot in one another's
so sure what they ultimately countries, if only for a
want," said graduate moment.
student Kim Jae-hak. Moon's patient, yet
For him, the ideal outcome determined diplomacy has
would be a formal been key to setting up the
declaration to the end the Trump and Kim meeting. It
Korean War, followed by the was Moon who presented
complete denuclearization Trump with the initial offer
of North Korea. He warned, of a summit with Kim. After
however, that high Trump accepted and then
expectations can bring canceled, Moon worked
great disappointment, so to get it back on track by
Koreans should watch how holding another meeting
things unfold. with Kim.
South Korea's government "It is critically important for
has been careful to avoid President Moon Jae-in that
rash comments or hasty the Trump-Moon summit
interpretations of the goes well," said John
seesaw developments Delury, associate professor
in the lead-up to the of East Asian studies at
summit in Singapore. Still, Yonsei University in Seoul.
South Korean President Moon has "staked a lot of
Moon Jae-in has made political capital in getting
negotiations with North the U.S. and North Korea to
Korea a centerpiece of move together in a positive
his administration and has way just like the two Koreas
a lot riding on next week's have done."
events. The Singapore meeting