President Moon Jae-in is set to finally sit down with the leaders of all main political parties... for talks on a wide range of issues... including the ongoing trade spat between South Korea and Japan.<br />For more, our Park Hee-jun is on the line for us.<br />Hee-jun, tell us more.<br /><br />Right, Ji-yoon. President Moon will hold talks at the Blue House with the leaders of the five political parties on Thursday between 4 and 6 PM, Korea time.<br />This gathering was finalized this morning by the secretary-generals of the parties at the National Assembly.<br />It comes just a day after a proposal was made by Hwang Kyo-ahn chief of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party.<br />It will be attended by the heads of the five parties along with their chief secretaries and spokespeople.<br />It's not yet decided who will participate from the government side,... but it's likely Presidential Chief of Staff for Policy Kim Sang-jo and Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki will be there.<br />The secretary-general of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea Yun Ho-jung told reporters after the negotiations that there was a general consensus among the parties that they need to cooperate on resolving South Korea's trade dispute with Japan.<br />They agreed on the need to put aside their political differences,... and put their heads together to minimize the damage to the South Korean economy and come up with a solution as soon as possible.<br />He said the parties will be briefed on the government's measures on the issue,... while discussing ways to collaborate in dealing with the trade tensions.<br />They could come up with a joint statement.<br />Other state issues, possibly the pending multi-billion dollar supplementary budget bill,... will also be on the table.<br /><br />Hee-jun, President Moon also presided over a cabinet meeting this morning.<br />What was discussed there?<br /><br />Yes, President Moon mostly emphasized the importance of so-called "two-top" diplomacy sharing the diplomatic duties between himself and Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon.<br />The president made this point amid the growing importance of diplomacy, especially in terms of the economy and peace,... and South Korea's rising status in the world.<br />He asked that they view Prime Minister Lee's ongoing four-nation tour as part of such efforts.<br />Here's the president.<br /><br />"South Korea has a presidential system, but uniquely it has a prime minister. We give the prime minister the authority to supervise the administrative branches under our Constitution. That means the prime minister has the status for summit-level diplomacy."<br /><br />President Moon said the prime minister's summit-level diplomacy is contributing to boosting support for domestic companies.<br />He asked for the ministries' active use of his diplomatic activities,... and for their full support.<br />However, there were no additional messages on the Japan trade issue,... nor the upcoming meeting with the five political parties.<br /><br />Ji-yoon.<br />
