Russia proposed a step-by-step plan for a Korean Peninsula crisis settlement today. It was discussed at the Asian session of the Valdai International Discussion Club in Seoul. To prevent a direct military conflict, Moscow, supported by Beijing, called on the US and the DPRK to abandon threats and move on to direct talks. The Russian roadmap suggests a whole package of political and economic initiatives, and at least in South Korea, they were met with great attention. Darya Kozlova reports. The North Korean military men are only a few meters away from the Americans and South Koreans. They listen to the Southern Minister's statement directly.
Song Young-moo, South Korean Minister of Defense: "The North must know that this is unacceptable. You can’t just shoot defectors".
They are referencing the November 13 incident. A defector was seriously injured during an attempted escape and is now in the hospital. All other information is classified.
The topic of to ensuring security not only on the peninsula but also in the whole region, was being discussed today at the open Valdai conference. These days, club meetings are held in Seoul, and the place wasn’t chosen by chance. Russia is presenting a step-by-step plan to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue.
Igor Mogulov, Deputy Foreign Minister: "The first step, of course, should be the reduction of military tension. It’s possible to pull off, if the DPRK doesn’t hold new missile and nuclear tests, and the intensity of American and South Korean military exercises is simultaneously reduced".
The first positive indicators are already seen. Two months without launching and testing in the DPRK. And this means that North Korea is de facto fulfilling its part of the Russian roadmap.
The US exercises, however, are still ongoing. But Seoul already recognizes that Russia plays an important role in resolving the North Korean crisis.
Song Young-Gil, South Korean President's special representative: "Russia now has more opportunities to talk to the DPRK. President Moon Jae-in is determined to improve relations, but the position of the United States also matters".
The next step in Moscow's initiative is to hold direct talks between the US and North Korea. At the third and final stage, participation in the process of all Asia-Pacific region countries is expected. The implementation of these initiatives will take years, but the Valdai Club looks forward. The topic of the conference is the future of Russia and Asia into 2037.
But what the future of South Korea will look like is being decided here as well. This is the Gangnam area. One of the main business and financial centers of whole Asia. Behind me is the headquarters of Hyundai, Canon is on the left, Samsung on the right. All the companies are Asian. No European or American company can be seen for a couple hundred meters either way.
A new development model, Asia for the Asians, and production localization are in the center of the Valdai delegates’ attention. But both Russians and the Asian republics' representatives are sure that there is and there’ll always be a place for Russia in this model.
Darya Kozlova, Renat Koreyev, Vadim Klevanov, Vesti, Seoul.
