Inter-Korea Summit
South Korean President Park Geun-hye mentioned the possibility of meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, drawing attention to the background and future inter-Korean relations.
In an interview with the French daily Le Figaro, Park said, “I am willing to have an inter-Korean summit if it is necessary for development of South-North relations or peace on the Korean Peninsula,” when she was asked about her readiness to meet Kim.
This interview was held in the Presidential Office on October 30, just before President Park started her tours to European nations.
President Park added, “I am, however, going to refrain from holding talks simply for talks’ sake, or holding talks as a one-off event. What is the most important is sincerity.”
Earlier during her visit to the US in May this year, President Park expressed a negative stance about a meeting with the North leader by saying, “What effect will such a meeting have right now,” from which this time’s response is quite a bit different.
The two Koreas have held two summits so far, the first one in 2000 and the second in 2007.
Park arrived in Paris on October 2 for a three-day visit, including summit talks with French President Francois Hollande on October 4. The major topic of the meeting will be expanding economic cooperation between the two countries.
Following the visit to France, President Park will make visits to Britain and Belgium.