ROK reiterates peaceful approach to nuke issue

SEOUL — The Republic of Korea’s presidential Blue House on Thursday reiterated its diplomacy-based approach to the issue of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s nuclear program.

Park Su-hyun, spokesman for President Moon Jae-in, told a news conference that security has become a comprehensive issue expanding into diplomacy as Moon mentioned.

As seen in the change in the National Security Office of the Blue House, the spokesman said, Seoul would attempt to resolve the security issues through an organic network with relevant countries.

The international community’ s sanctions and pressures remained toward the DPRK for its advanced nuclear and missile programs, but Seoul’s DPRK policy will be determined by future situations and under the framework of international cooperation, the spokesman said.

Moon appointed Chung Eui-yong, a career diplomat, as chief of the National Security Office, saying that security and diplomacy are the two sides of the same coin.

The president said the requirement for the top security adviser would be a diplomatic capability along with the firm philosophy of national defense as he is required to resolve an issue intertwined with security, diplomatic and economic elements.

Meanwhile, Kang Kyunghwa, the ROK foreign minister nominee, said on Thursday that the humanitarian aid to the DPRK should be provided without political considerations.

Kang, a veteran diplomat at the United Nations, arrived in Seoul on Thursday from New York.

She said the humanitarian aid to the DPRK should be done separately from political considerations as it is a matter about the universal value of humanity that should be done toward people who are suffering from pain.

Over the weekend, Moon appointed Kan gas the country’ s first female foreign minister. The post does not require a parliamentary approval, but she will be subject to the National Assembly hearing.