Improving Ties

[Anchor Lead]

President Moon Jae-in gave an interview to the Chinese state broadcaster CCTV ahead of his state visit to China. President Moon said that the upcoming visit would serve as momentum for restoring trust between the two nations. He also vowed to prevent the deployment of the THAAD missile defense system from infringing on China's national security interests.

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President Moon Jae-in expressed hope that his upcoming visit to China will help restore the broken trust between Korea and China and promote friendly ties between the people of the two countries. President Moon said that his governing philosophy had much in common with that of President Xi Jinping, and that he looked forward to a long-lasting friendship with him.

[Soundbite] Pres. Moon Jae-in : "Because we have much in common in terms of our governing philosophy, I hope that we will promote bilateral relations and usher in a new era together."

Regarding the U.S. THAAD missile defense system, President Moon said that the two nations need to view it from each other's perspective and give it some time. Moon said that the deployment of the U.S. missile defense system was in no way intended to damage China's strategic national security interests, and vowed to take extra caution in that respect.

[Soundbite] Pres. Moon Jae-in : "Korea will take extra caution to prevent the THAAD system from violating China's national security interests. We have also received this promise from the United States several times."

President Moon stressed that South Korea and China must cooperate closely to solve tensions on the Korean Peninsula and persuade Pyongyang to return to the negotiating table. The South Korean leader also urged China's cooperation and support in promoting the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games as the Games of inter-Korean peace.