pyongyang US, China Invited for Korean Peace Treaty
Joint Declaration Calls for Creating New Economic Zone in NK
Joint Press Corps, Kim Yon-se and Yoon Won-sup
Staff Reporters
PYONGYANG _ Leaders of the two Koreas Thursday invited the United States and China to sign a Korean peace treaty to end the Korean War and pledged to support the ongoing denucleraization six-party talks.
The agreement is contained in a joint declaration President Roh Moo-hyun and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il signed at the conclusion of their three-day summit here, which includes comprehensive agreements on establishing peace and promoting economic cooperation.
But the agreement does not specify how North Korea will disable its nuclear weapons, and did not mention South Koreans abducted by the North and Korean War prisoners of war (POWs) now held here.
``The South and North shared the view that they should end the current armistice regime and establish a permanent peace regime,'' according to the agreement signed by the two leaders.
The two will seek a summit meeting of three or four nations in order to sign a peace treaty, which will officially end the war and establish permanent peace on the peninsula, according to the statement. Technically, the two Koreas are still in a state of war with hostilities ended by an armistice signed by the United Nations Command led by the United States, and North Korea and China.
``The South and North agreed to closely cooperate to end military hostility, ease tension and ensure peace on the peninsula,'' the declaration said. Toward this end, the two sides will hold defense ministerial talks in Pyongyang in November.
Roh and Kim also agreed to cooperate to realize denuclearization on the peninsula by observing agreements of Sept. 19, 2005 and Feb. 13, 2007 reached at the six-party talks.
Both declared their opposition to any war and reconfirmed non-aggression commitments.
Turning to inter-Korean economic cooperation, the leaders agreed to create a special zone of peace and cooperation around Haeju and the West Sea where an economic zone and common fishing area will be set up.
The Gaeseong Industrial Complex will be expanded with the second phase of development and better regulations on communication, transportation and customs procedures will be implemented.
To promote inter-Korean culture and sports, the two Koreas will open direct flights between Seoul and Mt. Baekdu so that South Koreans can visit the mountain in the North.
The prime ministers of the two Koreas will meet in Seoul in November to discuss ways of implementing the agreements, and Roh and Kim also agreed to arrange further inter-Korean summits ``frequently.''
According to Cheong Wa Dae, the South suggested using ``regularly'' instead of occasionally but the North wouldn't accept this.
For displaced family members, the two sides agreed to hold more reunions given that many of them are now very old. Since the first inter-Korean summit in June 2000, some 18,000 Koreans from displaced families have met.
Roh and Kim signed the joint declaration before Kim hosted a luncheon for the delegation from the South.
On the way back to Seoul, Roh visited the Gaeseong Industrial Complex and encouraged North Korean employees working there. North Koreans are employed by South Korean businessmen to manufacture goods at the complex.
Entering the inter-Korean border to the South, Roh made a speech, summing up his visit to Pyongyang. He arrived at Cheong Wa Dae in the evening.
On Roh's return, both pro-government and opposition parties welcomed the outcome of the summit, particularly the declaration.
Kang Jae-sup, chairman of the main opposition Grand National Party (GNP) said, ``We recognize efforts for the development of inter-Korean relations and peace and prosperity contained in the declaration. But we are sorry that the declaration lacked in concrete measures for denuclearization and military confidence-building.''
GNP Presidential nominee Lee Myung-bak said the joint statement is positive in that the two leaders made efforts to implement measures for putting peace in place on the Korean Peninsula.
Lee, 65, however, said the accord is still ``insufficient'' as it failed to address specific elements in North Korea's nuclear programs and humanitarian issues such as separated families and the military prisoners of war.
