Yonhap News

On April 10, the Minjoo Party of Korea's presidential candidate Moon Jae-in (64, photo) clearly stated his opposition to the recent statement by the U.S. Trump administration, which suggested that they were considering a preemptive strike on North Korea as one of their options against the hermit state. Moon said, "The United States alone should not unilaterally make a decision without adequate prior consultation with the Republic of Korea."
In an interview with the Kyunghyang Shinmun this day, Moon expressed his views as he said, “There can be no war on the Korean Peninsula.”
When asked, "If the U.S. opts to launch a preemptive strike on North Korea after you become president, how will you respond?" Moon said, "Just because the U.S. said they were open to various options, it does not necessarily mean they plan to execute those options. I think it's more intended to pressure the opponent in order to draw them to the negotiating table." He continued, "Regardless of which option the U.S. chooses, they will have to consult us prior to the execution. That is the dominant principle."
As for Ahn Cheol-soo, the presidential candidate of the People's Party, who is currently Moon's strongest competition in the presidential election, Moon said, "Everyone knows that the people who supported those involved in the recent scandal and the corrupt groups with vested interests are supporting Ahn. If Ahn is elected, it would be a fake new government and simply an extension of the current government."
"It is clear that the people who abused state authority and created such deep-rooted evils fear Moon Jae-in. After all, the only slogan that they are shouting in the latest election is anti-Moon, isn't it? The candidate whom the people seeking to maintain long-standing evils fear most is the candidate who is most suitable to implement the Zeitgeist, which the candlelight public so yearns for," Moon added.
He also said, "If the People's Party enters office with forty seats in the National Assembly, they will lack the power to drive state administration. If Ahn becomes president with the support from the corrupt groups with vested interests, the Liberty Korea Party and the Bareun Party will eventually end up leading state administration in the new government."
Moon cited the three major reform tasks in his early days in office: moving the presidential office to the government office building in Gwanghwamun and reforming the Prosecution Service and the National Intelligence Service; creating more jobs; and enacting legislation and allocating the budget to promote the joint growth of small and medium-sized enterprises and local shop owners.
As for U.S. President Donald Trump, Moon said, "I expect him to calculate the losses and gains, and thus reach a more reasonable decision. I actually think President Trump will be easier to talk to."