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| South Korean President Moon Jae-in |
SEOUL, Sept. 3 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's sixth nuclear test on Sunday is likely to deal a serious blow to President Moon Jae-in's policy aiming to improve inter-Korean ties and resolve the nuclear standoff diplomatically, experts said.
Since taking office in May, Moon has clutched on to the policy line focused on engagement despite the unruly regime's continued provocations, including two intercontinental-range ballistic missile launches in July.
In an address in Berlin in July, Moon offered talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and suggested Seoul is open to the North's wish for regime security and a peace treaty with the United States. He also proposed talks on family reunions and military tension reduction.
The North on Sunday tested what it called a hydrogen bomb mountable onto an ICBM, which escalated the level of its provocations in blatant disregard of the South's rapprochement efforts.
The test is widely expected to push Moon's peace ambition further into a corner. It would lead to tougher sanctions and pressure, which will limit the leeway for Moon's rapprochement policy.
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