President Moon Jae-in’s first visit to the UAE last month marked another historic moment in the two countries’ bilateral relations. Not to mention the remarkable agreements and ceremonies, including the completion of the first unit of the Baraka Nuclear Power Plant, his tour served as a chance to cement friendship and trust with his partner, His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. To President Moon, indeed his first visit to the Middle East during his tenure was an opportunity to confirm UAE as a companion in his journey of presidency. By visiting the UAE in less than a year since his inauguration, he firmly signalled his strong commitment to the relation.
Meanwhile, back in Seoul, President Moon is also leading another audacious journey that will mark a historic turnaround in the history of the Korean Peninsula. Tension with North Korea was at its highest when he first took office, apparently due to Pyongyang’s continuous nuclear tests and missile launches. However, instead of stumbling into the vicious circle of provocations and mutual blame game, President Moon wisely managed to change the tide.
Early in January this year, the two Koreas held high-level talks in the demilitarised zone and agreed to cooperate for North Korea’s participation in the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games. It marked the resumption of interaction between the two Koreas that had been severed for many years.
In the following month, the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games opened up a new phase in the long-halted inter-Korean political dialogue. The exchange of special envoys delivered promises to hold an inter-Korean summit. On the occasion of the South Korean envoy’s visit to Pyongyang, the North Korean leader also expressed his commitment to denuclearisation and that North Korea would refrain from any further nuclear or missile tests.
Close cooperation
President Moon has also been praised for successfully brokering talks between North Korea and the United States. Following the inter-Korean summit, US President Donald Trump will be meeting the North Korean leader by next month to continue the talks to put the complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula on track. Based on the steadfast alliance, South Korea and the US will closely cooperate with each other in the process of discussions over the denuclearisation and settlement of peace in the Korean peninsula, including through inter-Korean talks and dialogues between North Korea and the US.
It is clear that after several years of hiatus, the long winter in the Korean Peninsula has started to give way to a spring of detente. The call for diplomacy is the clear wish of the public, both in Korea and the US. And one thing for sure is that President Moon has taken the driver’s seat on the path to accomplish denuclearisation and promoting peace on the Korean Peninsula.
The Inter-Korean Summit, which will mark the first event this spring, will focus on laying the foundation for denuclearisation and settlement of peace on the Korean Peninsula as well as on the progress of inter-Korean relations, rather than aiming at reaching at agreements on numerous fronts. Given the fact that inter-Korean relations have remained severed for a long time and deteriorated, it will be of great significance for the two leaders to build mutual trust through candid and heart-to-heart discussions.
In this regard, Korea is keen to learn from the UAE of its wisdom to harmonise differences and turning them into genuine unity. To the Korean people, legendary episodes involving the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan’s visits to different emirates and mediation of multiple interests are stories to pay attention to. The history of the UAE itself is indeed a reference to be thoroughly studied and followed in the Korean context.
In the coming months, the Korean government will continue to work closely with its partners for a successful transition into a steady phase of dialogue in Northeast Asia. As we learn from the UAE’s wisdom, we also ask for continued interest and support from the people of the UAE so that the recent amiable atmosphere in the Korean Peninsula can bear fruit.
We are also keen to share our lessons with our friends in the Middle East, hoping that one day, the echo of peace produced in the Far East will reach the Middle East and help resolve the ongoing tensions in the region.
Park Kang-ho is the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the UAE.
