Normalizing Diplomacy

[Anchor Lead]

President Moon Jae-in marks his second month in office on Monday. His administration has sought to normalize South Korea’s diplomatic presence in the international arena since the Park Geun-hye impeachment scandal. Wrapping up a tour of Germany, President Moon has returned to Korea.

[Pkg]

President Moon Jae-in has returned to Korea after a busy six-day trip to Germany, where he attended the G20 Summit and held 14 meetings with various heads of state.At the final session of the G20 Summit, President Moon referenced severe malnutrition in North Korea and called on the international community to provide humanitarian aid to the North within the framework of sanctions. He also met with French President Emmanuel Macron to urge France to use its role as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council in denuclearizing North Korea. The two leaders also agreed to expand bilateral cooperation in economy and culture. A South Korean government official said that although the joint statement adopted by the G20 leaders did not include North Korea's nuclear and missile issue, German Chancellor Angela Merkel held a news conference to express the world leaders' concerns over Pyongyang's provocations. The Korean government also added that the president received support for his administration's people-centered investment and other economic policies, as countries around the world struggle to overcome polarization caused by low growth and lack of jobs.

[Soundbite] Kim Dong-yeon(Finance Minister) : "The G20 leaders showed great interest in Korea's policies and expressed their support. The government will share its policy implementation and results with the international community on a regular basis."

Meanwhile, President Moon's summit talks with the Indonesian leader had to be cancelled due to violent G20 protests.