(LEAD) Moon says France, U.N. can speed up N. Korea's denuclearization by easing sanctions

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; UPDATES with reports of outcome of Moon-Macron summit, additional information, changes throughout; TRIMS)

PARIS, Oct. 15 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Monday stressed the need to ease international sanctions against North Korea when and if the communist state takes practical steps to denuclearize.

The call came in a bilateral summit with French President Emmanuel Macron where the South Korean leader asked France, a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, to spearhead the move when conditions are met.

In a joint press conference following their summit, Macron stressed the need to maintain international sanctions on the North to completely, verifiably and irreversibly denuclearize the communist state.

He, however, said his country will support ways to further accelerate the denuclearization process if the North is in fact moving that direction.

Moon agreed with the need to maintain pressure on the North until it denuclearizes, but said such pressure could be or should be eased to encourage the impoverished North.

"I believe the international community needs to provide assurances that North Korea has made the right choice to denuclearize and encourage North Korea to speed up the process," the South Korean president told the joint press conference.

Moon's remarks come amid an apparent tug of war between the United States and North Korea over when the North should be entitled to rewards for giving up its nuclear ambition.

Pyongyang is said to be demanding timely rewards for what it claims to be irreversible denuclearization steps it has already taken while Washington is insisting on maximum sanctions and pressure until the impoverished nation fully denuclearizes.

Moon apparently spoke on behalf of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, with whom he has held three rounds of inter-Korean summits in 2018 alone, when he said the North Korean leader is determined to give up all his country's nuclear capabilities, including existing weapons, according to Moon's chief public relations secretary, Yoon Young-chan.

"Chairman Kim Jong-un has said he is willing to not only halt the country's nuclear and missile tests and also dismantle its production facilities but also dismantle all nuclear weapons and nuclear materials it currently possesses if the United States takes corresponding measures," Moon told the French president, according to Yoon.

Moon last met with Kim in mid-September when he traveled to Pyongyang for a three-day visit.

In an interview with French daily Le Figaro, the South Korean president said it was now time for the world to show to North Korea that it has made the right decision to give up its nuclear ambition.

"Today, we agreed on the need to completely get rid of all vestiges of the Cold War that remain on the Korean Peninsula," Moon said of his summit with Macron in a joint press conference here in Paris.

"While I hope to see a leading role and contributions of France, a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council and a key nation in the European Union, in the process of complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and establishment of lasting peace, I thank President Macron for his unwavering support for peace on the Korean Peninsula," he added.

Speaking in the joint press event, Macron noted a need to maintain international sanctions on North Korea to completely, irreversibly and verifiably denuclearize the communist state.

Still, the French leader said his country will support ways to acclerate the denuclearization process if the North faithfully begins such a process.

Moon arrived here Saturday on a four-day state visit that will end Tuesday. The Moon-Macron summit followed an official welcome ceremony for Moon.

The leaders of South Korea and France also discussed ways to improve the countries' bilateral relationship.

"The two leaders agreed to expand the countries' bilateral trade and investment based on the countries' comprehensive partnership for the 21st century established in 2004, and to take joint efforts to develop new growth engines in the fourth industrial revolution by expanding their cooperation in areas, including the science technology, new industry, SMEs and startup sectors," Moon's presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said in a press release.

The Moon-Macron summit marked the second of its kind since both leaders took office in May 2017.

Moon will later attend a state dinner to be hosted by his French counterpart.

The South Korean president will leave Paris on Tuesday to head for Italy where he will make official visits to Rome and the Vatican.

He is currently on a five-nation tour that will later take him to Belgium for the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) summit that will involve the heads of state or government from 50 other countries.

bdk@yna.co.kr
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