By Kim Rahn

President Moon Jae-in shakes hands with Sen. Edward Markey at Cheong Wa Dae, Monday, during Markey and a group of U.S. lawmakers' visit to Seoul. / Yonhap

President Moon Jae-in is repeatedly signaling to the Donald Trump administration he opposes military action against North Korea.

While Trump and his key security aides have not ruled out the use of force as a solution to the North Korea nuclear crisis, Moon is asking Washington to make diplomatic efforts to defuse tension, while urging Pyongyang not to make further provocations.

During his meeting with a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers, Monday, Moon stressed any military action against North Korea, however slight it may be, would result in catastrophic results on the Korean Peninsula.

His remarks come as some top U.S. policymakers keep saying all options, including military ones, are on the table for the North's nuclear and missile programs issue, especially after Pyongyang test-fired intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) and threatened to strike the U.S. territory of Guam.

"I understand the U.S. saying all options are on the table to pressure the North to give up its nuclear ambition," presidential spokesman Park Soo-hyun quoted Moon as saying. "However, any military option, whatever extent it has, will lead to an armed conflict between the two Koreas, and this will threaten the lives of not only South Koreans but also many foreigners and American soldiers stationed here."

The remark again showed the President's basic stance that the North Korea issue should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy, and also signaled his disapproval of comments about military options by top U.S. policymakers, including President Trump, who has used bellicose rhetoric such as "fire and fury like the world has never seen" and "locked and loaded."

In a press conference to mark his 100th day in office last Thursday, Moon also said he would not allow a war on the peninsula ever again.

"Nobody can make a decision on military action on the peninsula without South Korea's consent," he said, dismissing concerns that Washington may take military action against Pyongyang without Seoul's agreement.

He said Seoul and Washington agreed to discuss any options with each other in advance before executing one. "I believe this is in the spirit of the South Korea-U.S. alliance," the President said.

Regarding Trump's bellicose rhetoric toward North Korea, Moon said it shows Trump's resolution to pressure the Kim Jong-un regime and does not necessarily indicate his intention to use military action.

During the meeting with the lawmakers, Moon also said that the sole purpose of the sanctions against Pyongyang is to resolve the issue peacefully, saying, "While intensifying the sanctions and pressure on the North, we also should keep sending messages that a bright future will be guaranteed if it returns to negotiations."

In a Cabinet meeting earlier in the day, he also urged North Korea to stop provocations and accept the offers for dialogue. "If it makes a brave decision, the military tension surrounding the peninsula will be eased and we can keep peace here on our own, bringing a stable and prosperous future by cooperating with the international community," he said.