The world has been showing great interest in the upcoming 2018 Inter-Korean Summit. Media outlets from around the globe are covering stories related to the Korean Peninsula, visiting the Demilitarized Zone and the Peace House in the Panmunjeom Truce Village, the summit venue, and holding interviews with people who have had to leave their homes in the North.

In line with this, Korea.net is meeting with diplomatic envoys to Seoul to learn more about their perspectives on the upcoming Inter-Korean Summit.

By Lee Hana and Hahm Hee-eun
Photos = Jeon Han
Seoul | April 20, 2018

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Irish Ambassador to Korea Julian Clare talks about his expectations for the 2018 Inter-Korea Summit, at the Embassy of Ireland in Seoul on April 20.

Irish Ambassador to Korea Julian Clare stressed that dialogue is the only way to peacefully solve the North Korean nuclear weapons issue, as he welcomed the pace of recent developments in inter-Korean dialogue.

On April 20, with just one week left before the 2018 Inter-Korean Summit, Ambassador Clare said that, “Given the tension in recent years and the absence of dialogue, the fact that the summit is taking place already qualifies as a significant success.”

“The more dialogue there is, whether it’s between the two Koreas or between the U.S. and North Korea, it can only be a good thing,” he said.

“With dialogue, the fear of misunderstanding and inadvertent developments can hopefully be avoided. The most important thing is that all parties are facing the same direction and engaged in the same process. If this is the outcome of the summits, then that already is a great success.”

The ambassador also added that in Ireland, there is tremendous admiration for the Moon administration’s foreign policy toward North Korea.

“President Moon Jae-in has shown great courage to bring events to where they are now. He knows he carries great responsibility, but he should know he has the support of the international community for the goals he is trying to achieve.”

Korea.net sat down with Ambassador Clare to hear his views on the upcoming 2018 Inter-Korean Summit.

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Irish Ambassador to Korea Julian Clare says that there is a consensus that the North Korean denuclearization issue should be solved exclusively through peaceful means, and that the only way that can happen in through dialogue.

-How did the Irish government react after hearing news of the 2018 Inter-Korean Summit?

Its reaction has been extraordinarily positive. At the level of the Irish government and its people, there’s tremendous respect for the approach that President Moon Jae-in has taken in the face of actions committed by North Korea. No matter how egregious the provocation, and no matter how trying the times, he kept the possibility of dialogue open. That insistence is what has brought us to the point where we are now, anticipating the Inter-Korean Summit.

-What is the top priority for the establishment of peace and denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula?

Everybody has a sense of the incremental steps that are required to get to the ultimate goal, which is a complete, verifiable, irreversible denuclearization (CVID) of the Korean Peninsula. The most important thing is that we are all facing in that direction.

In terms of the summits, the most important thing is that there is forward movement, no matter how numerous or complicated the steps.

-So the fact that they’re having dialogue is an important first step?

Absolutely. It’s very difficult to see a resolution of this problem in the absence of such dialogue. The term that the European Union uses is “critical engagement.” The key is to try to sustain pressure on North Korea through sanctions, while remaining open to dialogue. There’s a consensus that the issue should be solved exclusively through peaceful means, and the only way that can happen is through dialogue.

-What are your expectations of the outcome of these summits?

At the summit, what we want to see is a continuum, a process that will lead to more steps, with the wider support of the international community. There is a difference between the subject matter of discussions compared to what one sees as the end goal: a peace treaty, full relations and economic cooperation. A lot of work needs to be done to get to that point, without losing sight of the ultimate goal, the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

-Do you have any final message concerning the Inter-Korean Summit?

The summit is not the end in itself. It’s a positive development that few people would have envisaged up until its announcement. The most hopeful thing is dialogue, and the fact that there is communication. The hope is that this will create a positive process that will lead to the common goal of denuclearization.

hlee10@korea.kr