Moon says denuclearization 'right' path to survival for N. Korea

SEOUL, June 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in stressed the need to bring North Korea back to the negotiating table while telling the communist North that denuclearization was the "right path" to ensure its safety in a recent interview published Wednesday.

In his interview with The Washington Post, the new South Korean president said his country may also consider reopening its joint industrial complex with the North but only after "some progress" on North Korea's denuclearization.

"For example, the reopening of Kaesong. This is something we can do at a later stage, when North Korea has made some progress on denuclearization," he was quoted in the U.S. newspaper as saying.

But for now, "we must continue to strengthen our sanctions and pressure on North Korea," he said.

bdk@yna.co.kr
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