President Moon Jae-in has reaffirmed his two major objectives for the upcoming summit with North Korea leader Kim Jong-un,... now just a matter of days away.
Speaking on Thursday to a group of elders with decades of diplomatic experience,... he also expressed optimism, North Korea and the U.S. will be able to meet half way.
Shin Se-min reports.
Two clear goals, says President Moon Jae-in, for his summit next week with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

"As you know, one is to continue developing inter-Korean relations and the other is to mediate and promote dialogue between North Korea and the U.S. with the aim of denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula. In fact, inter-Korean relations have progressed more speedily than we had expected."

Speaking to a group that's advised officials on previous inter-Korean summits,… President Moon expressed his optimism about the Pyeongyang summit, now less than a week away.
It's a confidence based on repeated affirmations of good faith by former foes.

"The leaders of North Korea and the U.S. have repeatedly reaffirmed their faith in each other in the letters they've exchanged. North Korea has promised complete denuclearization, and the U.S. has pledged that it won't pursue regime change."

Between those two sides, President Moon said it is his role to find common ground so that Pyeongyang denuclearizes and Washington takes corresponding steps.
The President then added that the two Koreas have already passed the stage of changing the paradigm,… and that now is the time to carry out the agreement reached by both sides -- despite the sanctions still imposed on the regime.
And in the meantime, President Moon said the Koreas will look for ways to promote prosperity in their own relations,… within the existing bounds.

"Only a little over a year into his term, and President Moon is readying for his third summit with Kim Jong-un,… after having helped arrange the first meeting between leaders of North Korea and the U.S.
And next week,... President Moon is looking to lead the regional players to take even bigger, irreversible steps.
Shin Se-min, Arirang News."