Published on August 9, 2019. This article introduces an essay by Abiru Rui published in the Sankei Shimbun. It discusses President Moon Jae-in’s statements toward Japan, inter-Korean economic cooperation, the concept of a “peace economy” with North Korea, and its connection to the Koryo Democratic Federal Republic system proposed by Kim Il-sung.

2019-08-09
He said, “Difficulties have been added to our economy, which is already in a severe situation, but we will never lose to Japan again,” but when did South Korea ever fight Japan and lose?
There are plenty of points to object to, but Mr. Moon’s expression was serious.
The following is from an essay by Abiru Rui, one of the finest active journalists today, published in yesterday’s Sankei Shimbun under the title “The Koryo Federal Republic That Mr. Moon Aims For.”
Even so, Moon Jae-in is an abnormal human being.
The abnormality of NHK’s attitude is also extreme: far from pointing out this man’s abnormality at all, it actually sides with him and, unbelievably, criticizes Japan.
When I heard the words spoken by South Korean President Moon Jae-in on the 5th at a meeting of senior secretaries and aides concerning economic cooperation with North Korea, I felt that Mr. Moon had stopped trying to hide his true intention, and I received the impression that he is seriously aiming to realize the Koryo Democratic Federal Republic.
A good opportunity to preach North–South unification
Mr. Moon is originally a pro-North figure who is even called an agent or servant of North Korea, but on this day, regarding Japan’s tightening of export controls toward South Korea, he stated the following.
“If a peace economy is realized through inter-Korean economic cooperation, we can catch up with Japan’s advantage all at once.” “This incident has allowed us to reconfirm how urgently necessary a peace economy is.” “When the South and North work together with the conviction that a peace economy is the future that only we possess, one that no other country in the world can have, we can prosper together on the peace of the Korean Peninsula together with denuclearization.”
If South Korea cooperates economically with one of the poorest countries in the world, a country specialized in military power, how can it catch up with Japan all at once?
Does he intend to team up with a country that is under economic sanctions from the international community over nuclear, missile, and abduction issues, and be sanctioned together with it?
On the 6th, the day after Mr. Moon made this appeal, North Korea again fired short-range ballistic missiles threatening South Korea.
It seems that the North, to which he sent his love call, is not paying him any attention at all, but is that all right?
In his address to the public announced on the 2nd as well, Mr. Moon said, “Difficulties have been added to our economy, which is already in a severe situation, but we will never lose to Japan again,” but when did South Korea ever fight Japan and lose?
There are plenty of points to object to, but Mr. Moon’s expression was serious.
At the very least, it is probably better to understand that Mr. Moon is seriously thinking in this way.
There is also a possibility that he regards Japan’s move to tighten export controls as a chance to preach to the people the necessity of North–South unification.
The groundwork for the North’s proposal is steadily being laid
The outline of the “Koryo Democratic Federal Republic system,” proposed in 1980 by North Korean President Kim Il-sung at the time as a method for North–South unification, listed the following as preconditions.

1. Easing tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
2. An end to American interference.
3. Realization of democratization in South Korea.
   If the birth of a pro-North Korean government and the thorough implementation of pro-North policies are what the North sought as democratization, then these three points have already been realized to a considerable extent.
   Also, according to the outline, the ten major administrative policies of the unified government are as follows.
   Even if one were told that these were words spoken by Mr. Moon, there would be no particular sense of incongruity.
   Maintaining independence▽pursuing democracy and great national unity▽economic exchange and cooperation between North and South▽exchanges and unified development in science, culture, education, and so on between North and South▽guaranteeing the use of transportation and postal means between North and South▽stabilizing the lives and improving the welfare of all the people▽ending the state of military confrontation, organizing a national united army, and reducing both sides’ armies▽guaranteeing the national rights of overseas compatriots▽coordinating the external activities of the two regional governments and taking joint steps▽representing the entire nation in external relations, maintaining a non-aligned and neutral line, and turning the Korean Peninsula into a peace zone.
   According to the writings of Oriental historian Miyawaki Junko, in the first Mongol invasion of Japan in 1274, the Bun’ei Campaign, the Goryeo army alone numbered 8,000, and the deputy commander of the main Yuan army of 15,000 was also a Goryeo man.
   Yahata Kazuo, a writer well versed in history, points out that the Goryeo army was not merely participating in the Mongol invasions but was in fact the main force, and that in terms of the process as well, Goryeo incited the Yuan, and he proposes that it should be called the “Yuan–Goryeo invasion.”
   Perhaps what Mr. Moon meant when he said “we will never lose again” was the Yuan–Goryeo invasion.
   Editorial writer and political department editorial committee member.