'Peace treaty possible without ending war'

By Kim Bo-eun

A state-run institute under the Ministry of Unification claimed Thursday that concerned nations can possibly discuss signing a peace treaty without declaring an end to the 1950-53 Korean War.

Although the declaration seems to be an ideal step toward a peace treaty, signing a peace treaty without the declaration is also possible, according to the Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU).

“Pushing for a declaration ending the war first is not an essential process in establishing a peace regime,” KINU researcher Kim Sang-ki told reporters.

When the focus is on an end of war declaration, negotiations for a peace treaty could be delayed, he said. The researcher added that South and North Korea already virtually declared an end to the war as a detente was created this year, with arms control taking place.

In addition, a consensus has been reached on the parties that would take part _ the Koreas, the U.S. and China _ and North Korea has taken a more flexible approach to U.S. troops stationed in the South so the likelihood of discussions for a peace treaty have become more likely, Kim said.

“As an end of war declaration is being delayed, it would be possible to review whether the declaration would be necessary, and parties could head straight to negotiations on a peace treaty early next year without the declaration,” he said.

Meanwhile, a day earlier, KINU unveiled its own blueprint for a peace treaty. While the institute said this was not drawn up upon the request of the government, views are that this may have been an attempt by the government to gauge public opinions about peace treaty with North Korea.

President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un agreed at their first summit on April 27 to switch the armistice to a peace treaty.

The treaty would be signed when North Korea achieves around 50 percent in denuclearization, KINU stated. It assumed this would be in early 2020.

The draft involved four parties of the Koreas, the U.S. and China signing the treaty. The first clause states “an official end to the Korean War which was suspended according to the armistice.” It also contains clauses such as the disbanding of the United Nations Command and a ban on deploying and setting up nuclear arsenal of the U.S. and China on the Korean Peninsula.

From North Korea, the draft required that it discards all nuclear materials by 2020. A clause implying a reduction in U.S. forces in Korea when North Korea completes denuclearization was also included.

KINU said this is a draft for a project that will be completed this month, and stated it could be revised or complemented.