Thread by @nktpnd

Moon Hee-sang, the current speaker of South Korea's National Assembly, is speaking here today in New York at @koreasociety. Will tweet any notable statements.

After recounting American and South Korean sacrifices during the Korean War, Moon makes a passionate case for ending the Korean War—"a fratricidal tragedy."

"Maximum pressure and engagement" played a pivotal role in getting us here, Moon says.

Trump’s "decisiveness and leadership" brought about the change between 2017 and 2018.

"We cannot recognize North Korea as a nuclear weapon state and its nuclear program should be completely dismantled." He adds also that no country should be hostile to North Korea.

"I am aware of the skepticism prevalent in the United States government and society regarding North Korea's sincerity in abandoning its nuclear weapons."

"I dare presume that a successful US-North Korea summit will significantly raise the likelihood of Chairman Kim's visit to Seoul." Moon also continues to support an inter-Korean parliamentary summit.

"We continually emphasize that without North Korea's abandonment of nuclear weapons, the improvement of inter-Korean relations can only be limited"

Per Moon: If NK gives up nukes, then:
> international community will accept it as "normal"
> US, ROK will "completely set aside hostilities"
> security assurances and more to flow