High Expectations

Make fresh start, but with no rush to detente

Friday's inter-Korean summit is raising people's expectations about the resolution of the North Korea nuclear issue and the settlement of peace on the peninsula. It is good to see that both President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un are ready to make the summit a success despite lingering differences over how to denuclearize and how to make peace.

Against this backdrop, provincial and municipal authorities are taking advantage of rapidly thawing ties to promote exchanges and cooperation with the North. It might be natural for them to do so in preparation for a "new era" of national reconciliation. But it is still too early to talk about economic exchanges with or assistance to the North.

The reason is because Seoul and Washington are taking a firm position that they should maintain pressure and sanctions against Pyongyang until the Kim regime relinquishes its nuclear and long-range missile programs. U.S. President Donald Trump has reaffirmed the North cannot win any reward before it completes denuclearization.

However, governors and mayors are busy floating diverse ideas of inter-Korean exchanges and collaboration. They are certainly riding the wave of detente, especially in the run-up to the June 13 local polls. Potential candidates are also making pledges to boost inter-Korean exchanges and push for development projects in the North.

Authorities in Gangwon Province, where the PyeongChang Winter Olympics was held in February, are active in deepening ties with the North. The province plans to send a delegation to the Ari Sports Cup under-15 tournament to be held in Pyongyang in June. Gov. Choi...