The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Diplomacy
  • Defense
  • Labor & Environment
  • Law & Crime
  • Health & Welfare
  • Embassy
  • Seoul & Provinces
  • Education
  • Foreign Communities
  • Obituaries
  • Multicultural Youth Award
Biz & Tech
  • Auto
  • IT
  • Game
  • Manufacturing
  • Retail & Food
  • Energy
  • Construction
  • Airlines
Finance
  • Policies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Banks
  • Non-banks
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
Lifestyle
  • Arts
  • Books
  • Travel & Cuisine
  • Trend
  • Fashion
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
  • Translation Award
Entertainment
  • K-pop
  • K-dramas & Shows
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Performances
  • Asia Model Festival
Sports
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Baseball
  • Other Sports
World
  • Asia Pacific
  • Americas
  • Europe & Africa
  • SCMP
Video
  • On the Spot
  • Feature
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
Community
  • The Korea Times
  • all menu
  • search
  • facebookfacebook
  • twittertwitter
  • youtubeyoutube
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • all menu
  • search
  • facebookfacebook
  • twittertwitter
  • youtubeyoutube
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
North Korea
Tue, December 10, 2019 | 19:35
Accident or incident? English version of Panmunjeom Declaration submitted to UN different from original
Posted : 2018-09-14 13:53
Updated : 2018-09-14 14:54
Park Si-soo
Mail
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
By Park Si-soo

The English version of the Panmunjeom Declaration circulated to United Nations member countries is causing a controversy because its critical phrase is different from the original text.

The original text released by Cheong Wa Dae shortly after the first summit between South Korean Moon Jae-in and his North Korean counterpart Kim Jong-un on April 27 states that the two Koreas "agreed to actively pursue" the end of the Korean War "during this year" through trilateral meetings involving the two Koreas and the United States, or quadrilateral meetings involving the two Koreas, the U.S. and China.

But the version submitted to the U.N. firmly states that the two Koreas "agreed to declare the end of war this year."

The two Koreas jointly submitted the controversial version of the declaration to the U.N. on Thursday.

Experts here are concerned that the modified phrase -- by intention or not -- could have a negative impact on diplomatic cooperation between South Korean and the U.S., especially when Washington sticks to the principle not to declare an end to the war unless the North takes concrete steps toward denuclearization.

Prof. Lee Sung-yoon of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University told the Voice of America that the modification was "problematic."

The modified phrase is identical to North Korea's English version of the declaration. The North's news agency, the Korean Central News Agency, wrote in its English edition, "The north and the south agreed to declare the end of war this year."?

The South Korean government says it has no problem with the phrase. A foreign ministry official said the controversy was caused by a "misunderstanding" in translation.

"Under the April 27 declaration, the two Koreas agreed to declare the end of the war within this year," The official said. "The English version submitted to the U.N was wholly based on the original text endorsed by the two countries."




Emailpss@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
Two Koreas agree to demilitarize JSA ahead of summit
The two Koreas agreed some military de-escalation measures Friday including a plan to demilitarize the Joint Security Area and continue joint recovery operations (JRO) of war dead ...








 
 
  • numberKorea is no longer 'drug free' country
  • numberDespite Trump's warning, Kim Jong-un poised to leverage US election for concession
  • numberNew taekwondo uniform adopted for Tokyo Olympics
  • numberU2 The Joshua Tree Tour 2019 - Seoul [PHOTOS]
  • numberSeoul to suffer sharpest decline in labor force by 2040: WTO
  • numberItaly steps up Seoul campaign on 55th anniversary of space exploration
  • numberYouth unemployment grows while OECD's drops
  • numberNon-bank Remittance expands to 16 African countries
  • number164 Vietnamese students vanish in South Korea
  • numberMcKinsey urges Korean banks to enhance profitability
  • Singer Kim Gun-mo embroiled in sexual assault scandal Singer Kim Gun-mo embroiled in sexual assault scandal
  • Kim Gun-mo accused of rape Kim Gun-mo accused of rape
  • Married actresses returning to small screen after childbirth Married actresses returning to small screen after childbirth
  • TWICE Jihyo injured at airport due to fans TWICE Jihyo injured at airport due to fans
  • TV show airs singer Kim Gun-mo's love story despite sexual assault claim TV show airs singer Kim Gun-mo's love story despite sexual assault claim
DARKROOM
  • Children deserve better

    Children deserve better

  • Global climate change: time is running out

    Global climate change: time is running out

  • CA cave fire burns more than 4,300 acres

    CA cave fire burns more than 4,300 acres

  • No money, no hope: South Korea's 'Dirt Spoons'

    No money, no hope: South Korea's 'Dirt Spoons'

  • Hong Kong democrats score historic victory

    Hong Kong democrats score historic victory

  • About Korea Times
  • CEO Message
  • Times History
  • Content Sales
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Location
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Mobile Service
  • RSS Service
  • Ombudsman
  • hankookilbo
  • Dongwha Group
  • Code of Ethics
Copyright