By Yi Whan-woo
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| Moon Chung-in |
North Korea has adapted to international sanctions and its economy has become increasingly durable,
according to President Moon Jae-in's foreign policy adviser.
Special Presidential Adviser for Unification, Security and Foreign Affairs Moon Chung-in, however, said Pyongyang's economy could reach its limit in the face of the sanctions.
He said North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is aware of this and is trying to overcome the situation by opening the country's doors to the outside world through denuclearization.
Speaking at a forum in Hong Kong, Saturday, he shared his eyewitness account of North Korea as a South Korean delegate during President Moon's latest summit with Kim in Pyongyang from Sept. 18 to 20.
The Korean Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation, a Seoul-based civic group, hosted the forum at the South Korean Consulate General in Hong Kong to discuss post-summit challenges. It attracted over 200 guests, including South Korean Consul General Kim Won-jin and council members in China.
"Pyongyang looked quite lively during the inter-Korean summit in September and I had the impression that its economy has adjusted to international sanctions and become increasingly durable," Moon said. "I believe the North can survive for the time being despite the tremendous sanctions."
He claimed women were dressed well in Pyongyang and that they were "indistinguishable" from those in Seoul.
Moon, who visited Pyongyang twice in the 2000s, also claimed stores there mostly sold Chinese goods in the past but now sell more North Korean goods.
"This means consumer goods are being replaced with North Korea-made products," he said. "The history of sanctions shows external pressure hardly changes a society."
Moon still acknowledged that North Korea's economic development will reach its limit and Kim will try to tackle it by opening the country's doors to the outside world.
"The young North Korean leader wants his people to eat well and live well. And his willingness for change was clearly seen when he stressed that his country, after going through difficulties, will not step backwards but should come up with results," he said.
Moon's remark came as the United States steps up sanctions on North Korea despite their denuclearization talks. The U.S. has imposed six new sets of sanctions on North Korea and those involved in illicit trade with the regime, since the groundbreaking summit between their leaders in Singapore, June 12.
Moon said Washington and Pyongyang can narrow their differences over the denuclearization method and that President Moon Jae-in is making "constant efforts" accordingly.
"It's true the South Korean government is sandwiched between the North and the U.S. But we're constantly telling the North that inter-Korean cooperation will be tough without denuclearization. I bet Pyongyang will understand this and accept it," he said.
He speculated U.S. President Donald Trump will want Pyongyang's denuclearization to win his second term, saying, "He does not have much of an achievement on other international issues."
He said he gives credit to Trump for "paying the largest attention" to the North Korea nuclear issue" than any other U.S. president.
