Pyongyang Declaration takes legal effect

By Lee Min-hyung

The historic Pyongyang Declaration, adopted by the leaders from the two Koreas last month, will take legal effect, Monday, providing a basis for Seoul to speed up a series of inter-Korean reconciliatory projects.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in signed the declaration with the North's Kim Jong-un during their three-day summit in Pyongyang. The declaration includes a string of agreements outlining inter-Korean economic and humanitarian reconciliation and military tension-easing steps.

Last week, President Moon ratified the declaration despite a fierce backlash from conservative parties. On Monday, the declaration will be published in an official gazette and be effective from the time of its publication.

But the government's ongoing drive is facing a backlash from political circles, with opposition parties stepping up their criticism on Moon for pushing for what they call a “unilateral and dogmatic” decision.

“It is highly inappropriate for Cheong Wa Dae to be in a rush to proclaim the inter-Korean declaration without ratification from the National Assembly,” Yoon Young-seok, a senior spokesman for the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP), said Sunday.

He denounced the President for coming to an agreement with Kim Jong-un over economic partnerships, as the possible lifting of sanctions imposed on the North should come only when the regime's young leader signs a document over its detailed steps on how to scrap its nuclear weapons.

“We urge the President to withdraw the ratification of the declaration by taking into account that the complete denuclearization of the North is not an overnight thing,” Yoon said.

The dogmatic state management by the Moon administration poses a serious threat to national security and the economy, he said.

The opposition parties here have blamed the presidential house for carrying out what they view as “pro-North Korea” policy drives without careful consideration of the regime's unpredictable nature.

Under the declaration, the Koreas agreed to stop any military provocations against each other and put an end to the decades-long hostility on the Korean Peninsula.

They also reached a consensus to kick off a groundbreaking ceremony for inter-Korean railway reconnection no later than the end of this year, as part of a key measure to boost the economic partnership between both sides.

“The relaxation of sanctions on the North and the economic collaboration should be carried out on the basis of the strong defense alliance between Seoul and Washington and cooperation from the international society,” Yoon said.