PSPD in English Peace/Disarmament 2018-04-28   2580

[Statement] We Welcome the Panmunjeom Declaration

We Welcome the Panmunjeom Declaration and 

the Arrival of the Era of Peace on the Korean Peninsula with It

The Declaration embodies both Koreas’ commitment to bringing the era of division and confrontation to an end and establishing a peace regime on their own accord.

The vision of thawing military tension, achieving disarmament through mutual trust-building, and freeing the Korean Peninsula from nuclear threats is highly praised.

 

On April 27, 2018, South and North Koreas declared the arrival of the Era of Peace, thus opening up a new chapter in history. With the entire world watching, the leaders of the two Koreas delivered hopes and achievements that seemed unimaginable even just several months ago. At the Summit, held for the first time in 11 years, the two leaders announced the Panmunjeom Declaration for Peace, Prosperity, and Unification of the Korean Peninsula, thus affirming their commitment to bringing the age of division and confrontation to an end and establishing peace on the Korean Peninsula in an active manner of their own accord. The People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD) could not be more delighted by the news of today’s Summit as well as its Panmunjeom Declaration.

 

Through the Declaration, the leaders of both Koreas agreed to implement sweeping and groundbreaking improvements and progresses in inter-Korean relations, to make concerted efforts to thaw military tension and eliminate risks of war, and to cooperate with each other actively toward establishing a permanent and solid peace regime on the Korean Peninsula. At the PSPD, we are especially heartened the fact that the two leaders decided to play leading roles in the process of establishing the peace regime, by declaring the end of the Korean War this year, replacing the ceasefire agreement with a peace treaty, and pursuing trilateral talks with the United States and/or quadrilateral talks with the United States and China. Moreover, we are also delighted the fact that the two leaders confirmed their agreement on realizing a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula through complete denuclearization and their commitment to making the required efforts together. We believe that the Declaration would form an important first step toward the progress of discussions on Korean peace and denuclearization that will be discussed again in the South Korea-U.S., North Korea-U.S., and North Korea-China summits. A nuclear-free Korean Peninsula must be achieved under the vision of establishing a Nuclear-Weapon-Free-Zone in Northeast Asia, and lead to efforts to free the entire world from nuclear weapons. 

 

The two leaders of both Koreas also affirmed the principle of self-determination, and agreed to implement the inter-Korean agreements that have been reached so far, implement sweeping and groundbreaking improvements and progresses in inter-Korean relations, and take immediate and significant actions toward alleviating tension on the Korean Peninsula. We especially appreciate the fact that the two leaders agreed to cease all hostile acts at once, turn the areas around the Northern Limitation Line (NLL) into a maritime peace zone, and hold frequent meetings between military authorities. These actions should have been put into effect according to the existing inter-Korean agreement, and must be carried out today to eliminate unnecessary armed clashes between the two Koreas. The two leaders also inspired the whole world by actively embracing the position in favor of reducing military tension and achieving disarmament in phases through mutual trust-building. 

 

Through the Panmunjeom Declaration, the two leaders also addressed pressing issues and tasks with respect to improving inter-Korean relations. They agreed to hold dialogue and negotiations, including at high levels, and to establish a joint liaison office with the resident representatives of both sides in Gaeseong to ensure and facilitate exchange and cooperation at both governmental and non-governmental levels. The two leaders also agreed to organize the reunion of separated families on the National Liberation Day of August 15 this year, implement the projects agreed in the October 4 2007 Declaration, including the connection the railways and roads along Donghaeseon and Gyeongeuiseon. As President Moon will visit Pyongyang this fall to expedite further negotiations across diverse areas of exchange and cooperation, we believe that exchange and cooperation between the two Koreas across various areas and at different levels should dramatically increase in the future.

 

Declaring the arrival of a new era of peace on the Korean Peninsula, the Panmunjeom Declaration should never be treated the same as past declarations and agreements. Both Koreas must remain dedicated to implementing its terms and finding specific ways to realize peace. Officials and civilians of both countries should meet more often and engage each other in greater dialogue. Through this process, we must achieve progress in inter-Korean relations, establish a robust peace regime on the peninsula, and free it from all nuclear threats. That is what the candlelight-holding citizens who gathered to protect peace and justice wanted to achieve. We have no doubt that the kindling of peace on the Korean Peninsula will lead to the peace of East Asia and the rest of the world.

 

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