Cheong Wa Dae declares de facto end of inter-Korean war
By Lee Min-hyung, Joint Press Corps
SEOUL/PYONGYANG ― The two Koreas reached agreements on easing possible armed conflicts, and carrying out systematic disarmament near the border, according to a joint statement issued after the inter-Korean summit in Pyongyang, Wednesday.
This is a follow-up to the April 27 Panmunjeom Declaration under which Seoul and Pyongyang signed a broad range of peace agreements to alleviate lingering military tension and join hands for lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula.
"As of Nov. 1, the two Koreas agreed to suspend any military exercises near the military demarcation line (MDL)," the joint military statement said.
In particular, both sides reached a consensus to stop conducting any artillery drills and regimental-level field training exercises within a 10-kilometer buffer zone along the border.
At sea, Seoul and Pyongyang also agreed to set an 80-kilometer maritime buffer area in the East and West Sea, as part of steps to prevent any accidental military conflicts near the inter-Korean sea border.
"We will turn the area near the western sea border or the northern limit line (NLL) into a sea of peace from a sea of conflict," the agreement said.
The Ministry of National Defense said the latest agreement is expected to help put a complete end to any artillery firing near the inter-Korean maritime border. But the ministry said it will maintain the current level of military readiness there to brace for possible threats.
Both Koreas also agreed to set up a no-fly zone about 40 kilometers west of the MDL and 80 kilometers east of the line. This is part a step for the two Koreas to prevent any accidental aerial conflict, according to the agreement.
Steps to disarm peninsula
Under the historic Pyongyang declaration, the two Koreas also reached a developed version of a peace agreement by including a series of specific steps to disarm troops in the Joint Security Area in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).
They include a pledge to remove 11 guard posts each located less than one kilometer from the border by the end of the year.
The two sides also agreed to work on the joint repatriation of war remains from inside the DMZ.
Both sides will also continue negotiating with each other to carry out joint activities ― such as the excavation of historic remains and research.
The agreement was signed by the defense leaders of the two Koreas ― Defense Minister Song Young-moo and his northern counterpart No Kwang-chol. The two signed the pledge on the second day of the ongoing three-day inter-Korean summit, which started Tuesday.
"We ― President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ― agreed to adopt the military agreement to end a decades-long history of hostility and tragic conflict between the two Koreas," the regime's young leader said after holding talks with Moon.
"Both sides are committed to making joint efforts to make the peninsula a land of peace without any nuclear weapons or nuclear threats," Kim said.
He also pledged to continue fulfilling his promise for the complete denuclearization of the peninsula in cooperation with Moon.
President Moon said both leaders agreed to terminate all potential risk factors that could provoke war on the peninsula.
This is the third time the leaders of the two Koreas have met with each other this year.
Ever since Moon and Kim held their first-ever summit in April, the South Korean leader has played a mediating role between Washington and Pyongyang. No details have been revealed over whether Moon also delivered a message from U.S. President Donald Trump to Kim.
Presidential press secretary Yoon Young-chan indicated in a briefing the symbolic connotation of the inter-Korean military agreement.
"I think the leaders of the two Koreas have de facto declared an end to the 65-year-long technical state of war on the peninsula," Yoon said. "They provided a roadmap for the mutual prosperity of the two Koreas. In other words, my view is that their agreement is a practical measure to open an era of prosperity and peace here."
By Lee Min-hyung, Joint Press Corps
SEOUL/PYONGYANG ― The two Koreas reached agreements on easing possible armed conflicts, and carrying out systematic disarmament near the border, according to a joint statement issued after the inter-Korean summit in Pyongyang, Wednesday.
This is a follow-up to the April 27 Panmunjeom Declaration under which Seoul and Pyongyang signed a broad range of peace agreements to alleviate lingering military tension and join hands for lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula.
"As of Nov. 1, the two Koreas agreed to suspend any military exercises near the military demarcation line (MDL)," the joint military statement said.
In particular, both sides reached a consensus to stop conducting any artillery drills and regimental-level field training exercises within a 10-kilometer buffer zone along the border.
At sea, Seoul and Pyongyang also agreed to set an 80-kilometer maritime buffer area in the East and West Sea, as part of steps to prevent any accidental military conflicts near the inter-Korean sea border.
"We will turn the area near the western sea border or the northern limit line (NLL) into a sea of peace from a sea of conflict," the agreement said.
The Ministry of National Defense said the latest agreement is expected to help put a complete end to any artillery firing near the inter-Korean maritime border. But the ministry said it will maintain the current level of military readiness there to brace for possible threats.
Both Koreas also agreed to set up a no-fly zone about 40 kilometers west of the MDL and 80 kilometers east of the line. This is part a step for the two Koreas to prevent any accidental aerial conflict, according to the agreement.
Steps to disarm peninsula
Under the historic Pyongyang declaration, the two Koreas also reached a developed version of a peace agreement by including a series of specific steps to disarm troops in the Joint Security Area in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).
They include a pledge to remove 11 guard posts each located less than one kilometer from the border by the end of the year.
The two sides also agreed to work on the joint repatriation of war remains from inside the DMZ.
Both sides will also continue negotiating with each other to carry out joint activities ― such as the excavation of historic remains and research.
The agreement was signed by the defense leaders of the two Koreas ― Defense Minister Song Young-moo and his northern counterpart No Kwang-chol. The two signed the pledge on the second day of the ongoing three-day inter-Korean summit, which started Tuesday.
"We ― President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ― agreed to adopt the military agreement to end a decades-long history of hostility and tragic conflict between the two Koreas," the regime's young leader said after holding talks with Moon.
"Both sides are committed to making joint efforts to make the peninsula a land of peace without any nuclear weapons or nuclear threats," Kim said.
He also pledged to continue fulfilling his promise for the complete denuclearization of the peninsula in cooperation with Moon.
President Moon said both leaders agreed to terminate all potential risk factors that could provoke war on the peninsula.
This is the third time the leaders of the two Koreas have met with each other this year.
Ever since Moon and Kim held their first-ever summit in April, the South Korean leader has played a mediating role between Washington and Pyongyang. No details have been revealed over whether Moon also delivered a message from U.S. President Donald Trump to Kim.
Presidential press secretary Yoon Young-chan indicated in a briefing the symbolic connotation of the inter-Korean military agreement.
"I think the leaders of the two Koreas have de facto declared an end to the 65-year-long technical state of war on the peninsula," Yoon said. "They provided a roadmap for the mutual prosperity of the two Koreas. In other words, my view is that their agreement is a practical measure to open an era of prosperity and peace here."
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