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NORTH KOREA THIS WEEK NO. 468 (October 4, 2007)
*** TOPIC OF THE WEEK (Part 1)
Roh, Kim Sign Joint Declaration on Peace Mechanism, N. Korea's Denuclearization
SEOUL (Yonhap) -- In a landmark accord in Pyongyang, the leaders of South and North Korea on Oct. 4 agreed to support international talks on North Korea's denuclearization and arrange a meeting of concerned parties to establish a permanent peace regime to replace the fragile armistice which ended the 1950-53 Korean War.
In a 10-point joint declaration signed by South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun and his North Korean counterpart Kim Jong-il in the North Korean capital, the sides also agreed to end military hostility and significantly expand inter-Korean cooperation in politics, economy, denuclearization and other pending issues.
The joint declaration in the second-ever summit of the two Koreas came on the heels of the latest six-nation deal on ending the North's nuclear weapons drive.
By signing the document, the North Korean leader for the first time personally committed to the North's denuclearization. In a six-nation accord announced on Oct. 3 after negotiations in Beijing, the North agreed to declare all its nuclear programs and disable its main atomic reactor by the end of the year under U.S. supervision.
The two leaders also agreed to step up trade, travel and political exchanges between the countries, which remain technically at war.
The statement called for a summit of "three or four countries" to declare a formal end to the 1950-53 conflict. The United States and China also fought in the Korean War, meaning that their signatures are necessary to formally end it. "The South and North share the view that they should end the current armistice system and build up a permanent peace system," the joint declaration said.
The North and South "agreed to definitely convert North-South relations into those of mutual respect and confidence irrespective of differing ideologies and systems," it said.
In the declaration, the two leaders also agreed to make joint efforts to ensure that agreements on shutting down the North's nuclear program are implemented smoothly.
The joint statement called for further meetings, including talks between the countries' prime ministers in November.
In addition, they agreed that the Koreas will actively implement the June 15 Joint Declaration from their first-ever summit to work for mutual respect and trust in order to overcome differences in ideology and systems.
South and North Korea agreed that they will make efforts to ease military tensions, resolve disputes through dialogue and negotiations as well as hold summits frequently in the future.
The leaders pledged to work to end military hostility and declared the disputed western sea border -- scene of bloody naval clashes in 1999 and 2002 -- a "peace zone."
Defense ministers of the two countries will meet next month in Pyongyang to discuss details of the zone and ways of supporting inter-Korean economic cooperation and easing tension.
The Koreas agreed to expand economic cooperation and construct a joint shipbuilding complex at Nampho southwest of Pyongyang. A direct air route will open between Seoul and the North's scenic Mt. Paektu to promote tourism, and a cross-border railway line will open for freight traffic, according to the joint declaration.
The two sides reached an agreement to expand economic cooperation for balanced development and co-prosperity, create a special peace zone around Haeju in North Korea and nearby areas, as well as work towards a joint fishing area, peace waters, special economic zone, and joint development of the estuary of the Han River.
They agreed to develop cooperation in the history, language, education, technology, culture, sports, and social sectors.
The declaration also called for the Koreas to actively push for humanitarian cooperation and expansion of reunions of separated families.
In addition, South and North Korea will strengthen cooperation for national interests on the international stage and the benefits of Korean residents abroad, according to the declaration.
The declaration came on the heels of two rounds of summit talks on Oct. 3 between the two leaders. President Roh and North Korean leader Kim reached a consensus on establishing peace on the Korean Peninsula. President Roh, however, said in a meeting with South Korean journalists that Kim showed skepticism on opening his country's market and economic reform.
Roh, accompanied by a 300-member delegation, arrived in Pyongyang on Oct. 2, becoming the first South Korean head of state to travel overland to North Korea.
In his journey in the morning of Oct. 2, Roh traveled three-and-a-half hours, or some 200 kilometers, to the North's capital. He was accompanied by industry leaders, politicians, cultural figures and scholars.
About 48 kilometers north of Seoul, Roh stepped out of his vehicle and symbolically walked across the inter-Korean border, becoming the first South Korean leader to do so.
In Pyongyang, hundreds of thousands of spectators erupted into well-choreographed chants of "hurray" and "national unification" as Roh rode through the city in an open limousine with Kim Yong-nam, who is the North's nominal head of state but ranks second to Kim in power.
North Korean leader Kim, wearing his signature khaki suit, made a surprise appearance to greet Roh at the April 25 Hall of Culture for a welcome ceremony. In the background, thousands of North Korean citizens, including women in colorful hanbok, chanted "manse" (hooray)" while waving pink and red bouquets.
Following the ceremony, Roh visited the Mansudae Assembly Hall in the afternoon and held talks with Kim Yong-nam for over an hour on boosting inter-Korean economic cooperation and creating a peace regime on the peninsula.
In the evening, Roh attended an official welcoming dinner hosted by Kim Yong-nam at the Mokran Restaurant. "We must now further develop North-South relations and accomplish the holy task of opening up a new era of unification. It is our sublime mission," Kim said in his welcoming speech. On his part, Roh proposed a toast to the good health of Kim Jong-il and Kim Yong-nam.
Roh told the South Korean joint press corps during a luncheon on Oct. 4 that he had felt a "wall of distrust" between the South and the North during the talks. He said Kim appeared to distrust the South on some points and rejected discussions on economic reform and market opening, adding that the development of mutual trust would take time and asking the South Korean people to be patient.
"We need to respect the North's view on this also," he noted. Roh described the two rounds of talks as fruitful, presidential spokesman Cheon Ho-seon quoted the president as saying,
The South Korean officials present at the summit talks were Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economy Kwon O-kyu, Unification Minister Lee Jae-joung, National Intelligence Service Director Kim Man-bok and Baek Jong-chun, chief presidential secretary for foreign and security policy.
Kim Jong-il attended the talks with only one other official, Kim Yang-gon, the director of the United Front Department of the North's ruling Workers' Party.
The North Korean leader even asked Roh to extend his trip by one more day. South Korean officials accompanying Roh said they interpreted Kim's proposal as his intention to carry out the summit talks more sincerely to produce substantial results. Unlike their first encounter on Oct. 2, when Kim looked dour and barely spoke to Roh, the leaders appeared in good spirits.
Roh and his entourage watched the "Arirang" mass gymnastic performance later in the day, joined by Kim Yong-nam, president of the Presidium of the North's Supreme People's Assembly. The show, aimed at promoting the Stalinist country's propaganda including its military-first policy, was modified for the South Korean audience with some content removed.
"The meeting between the leaders of the North and the South has great importance in expanding and developing the relations to a higher level and paving the way for peace, prosperity and unification," the North's Central News Agency reported.
Roh was to visit the South Korea-invested industrial complex in the North's border town of Kaesong on Oct. 4 before crossing the heavily fortified border by car and arriving in Seoul in the evening.
(END)
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