Seoul seeks to further Trump’s legacy on North Korea under Biden administration

President Moon Jae-in says South Korea will ensure there is no ‘vacuum’ in diplomatic efforts to achieve peace in the Korean peninsula

Trump’s strategy of engagement with Pyongyang had aligned with Moon administration’s approach, even though the Trump-Kim summits had been dismissed as ‘photo ops’

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South Korea plans to work with the incoming Biden administration to continue the North Korea strategy pursued by US President Donald Trump. Photo: AFP

Published: 5:36pm, 9 Nov 2020Updated: 11:02pm, 9 Nov 2020

South Korea will seek to advance Donald Trump’s diplomatic legacy regarding the denuclearisation of North Korea, President Moon Jae-in said on Monday, even as the US presidential election outcome left the country in relief.

While an opinion poll showed South Korean citizens backed Joe Biden to Trump in an overwhelming margin of four to one, the government has favoured Trump’s approach towards Pyongyang, which saw him meeting leader Kim Jong-un three times.

Moon said at a meeting with his top aides that Seoul would ensure there was no “vacuum” in diplomatic efforts to “strengthen the South Korea-US alliance and progress in the Korea peace process”.

“I will do my utmost to make sure the precious achievements made together under the Trump administration be well succeeded and further developed by the next government,” he said.

Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said she did not believe Washington would rewind its strategy on North Korea.