South Korea's Moon Jae-in sworn in vowing to address North
4 replies, posted
[URL="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-39866696"]http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-39866696[/URL]
[QUOTE]South Korea's new President Moon Jae-in has been sworn in, vowing to address the economy and relations with the North in his first speech as president.
He said that he would even be willing to visit Pyongyang under the right circumstances.
Mr Moon took his oath of office in Seoul's National Assembly building a day after his decisive win.
[B]The former human rights lawyer and son of North Korean refugees is known for his liberal views.[/B]
Tensions on the Korean peninsula remain high and recent weeks have seen the US and Pyongyang trade angry rhetoric as speculation about another nuclear test grows.
Mr Moon has also vowed to unify a divided country reeling from a corruption scandal which saw his predecessor, Park Geun-hye, impeached.[
In his inauguration speech, Mr Moon said he would "do everything I can to build peace on the Korean peninsula".
"If needed I will fly to Washington immediately," he said. "I will also go to Beijing and Tokyo and even Pyongyang in the right circumstances."
He added that he would have "serious negotiations" with the US and China over the controversial deployment of anti-missile system Thaad.
In his first key appointments, President Moon named Lee Nak-yon, the current governor of South Jeolla Province, to the post of prime minister, and Suh Hoon, who played a key role in preparing the two inter-Korea summits in the 2000s, to head the National Intelligence Service.[/QUOTE]
The part I have in bold is, to me, absolutely amazing. I would love to know more about his background.
Maybe a liberal will cool relations with China, given the THAAD stuff.
For those who don't know, in Korea liberals are more anti-American military presence on the peninsula. They prefer diplomacy over military solutions with the North. The Conservatives prefer to respond to the North with military force and the last two presidents were conservatives.
Relations between China and South Korea are strained recently because of South Korea [url=http://www.cnbc.com/2017/03/17/thaad-anti-missile-system-makes-china-lash-out-at-south-korea.html]deploying THAAD[/url].
Conservative or Liberal, I think what's important is that Korea have a leader who can stand their own without relying too much on America, as conservatives in Korea are sometimes seen. Considering countries all over the world are rethinking their security alliances (Trump), it's important for South Korea to have a strong leader right now
Honestly if the South Koreans think they can handle it all by themselves this time around, all power to them, but if the Norks show any resolve with their threats regarding Japan and the United States, then we must be ready with gear on the ground to respond to prevent the conflict from escalating into an even more dangerous phase.
Wow SK presidents get sworn in pretty quickly.
[QUOTE=Daniel Smith;52210054]Wow SK presidents get sworn in pretty quickly.[/QUOTE]
I think this is because he's replacing an acting president, since the last elected one was impeached.
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