REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, SEOUL -- The former Indonesian president Megawati Soekarnoputri was asked to help bridge the reunification of the two Koreas during her courtesy visit to the Blue House to meet South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Monday.
"Apparently, he intends to invite me back if possible to help establish the reunification of North Korea and South Korea," Megawati said after meeting Moon Jae-in here.
Historically, the relationship between Soekarno and his North Korean counterpart Kim Il Sung had been very good.
Kim Il Sung was once invited by Soekarno to visit Jakarta. During his trip to Jakarta, Soekarno gave an orchid as a sign of friendship between the two countries to Kim Il Sung which became known as "Orchid Diplomacy."
On that occasion, Megawati became acquainted with the son of Kim Il Sung, namely Kim Jong Il, who visited Jakarta.
As time went by, Kim Jong Il's son Kim Jong Un, who now leads North Korea, also respected Megawati.
On the other hand, when Megawati once served as the fifth president of Republic of Indonesia, South Korea was led by Kim Dae Jung who desperately longed for the unification of the two Koreas.
Since the leadership of South Korea held by Kim Dae Jung then switched to Rooh Moo Hyun, the reunification effort continued to be carried out. South Korea also asked Megawati to bridge the reunification when Megawati served as the president of Republic of Indonesia.
But the effort was hampered as the leadership in South Korea continued to experience a turn.
Currently, South Korea is led by Moon Jae-in, who was inaugurated on May 10. Moon Jae-in again asked Megawati to help the realization of the reunification of the two Koreas.
"I certainly do not act personally. I am here as an envoy of Indonesia," Megawati noted.
Megawati revealed that she did not want to elaborate specifically on the efforts she would make to help reunify the two Koreas. But she implied that she was willing to help the realization of the unification of the two Koreas.