President Moon Jae-in delivers a New Year address to the nation at Cheong Wa Dae, Monday. Korea Times photo by Wang Tae-seok

By Do Je-hae

President Moon Jae-in underlined an unwavering commitment to his peace process on the Korean Peninsula by improving relations with North Korea, Monday, despite rising concerns over a possible continued deadlock in both inter-Korean and U.S.-North Korea relations under the incoming Joe Biden administration.

In a 27-minute New Year speech, President Moon said he would sit down with the North "at anytime, anywhere" to discuss cooperation, even in a non-face-to-face manner.

"This year marks the 30th anniversary of the two Koreas' simultaneous membership of the United Nations. The South and North must join hands to prove that peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula is beneficial for the international community," Moon said during the nationally-televised address. "It is our duty to pass on a Korean Peninsula without war and nuclear weapons to the next generation. In line with the launch of the U.S. Biden administration, the government will strengthen the South Korea-U.S. alliance and make a last-ditch effort to achieve a major turnaround in stalled U.S.-North Korea and inter-Korea dialogue."