Unification minister calls for regularizing inter-Korea summits
Participants celebrate the opening of the Korea Forum 2018 at The Shilla Hotel Seoul, Thursday. From left at the head table are Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon; Bareunmirae Party co-leader Yoo Seung-min; Democratic Party of Korea Chairwoman Rep. Choo Mi-ae; The Korea Times Chairman Seung Myung-ho; National Assembly Speaker Chung Sye-kyun; Hankook Ilbo President-Publisher Lee Jun-hee; Liberty Korea Party Chairman Hong Joon-pyo; and the Party for Democracy and Peace Chairwoman Cho Bae-sook. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
'Denuclearization may take long time'
By Lee Min-hyung
The leaders of the two Koreas need to meet regularly so rapprochement can lead to complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon said Thursday.
“I would say the most noteworthy outcome from last week's inter-Korean summit was the agreement to hold regular meetings between President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un,” Cho said in a keynote speech at The Korea Forum 2018 co-hosted by The Korea Times and its sister paper the Hankook Ilbo in Seoul.
“This is essential for the stable and sustainable development of inter-Korean relations as well as for nuclear disarmament on the peninsula.”
The forum, held under the theme, “From Crisis to Peace: Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and a New Order in Northeast Asia,” featured in-depth discussions on the new order prevailing on the peninsula following last Friday's historical summit.
Renowned overseas panelists invited to the forum include Robert Gallucci, the former U.S. nuclear negotiator with North Korea, and Evans Revere, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution's Center for East Asia Policy Studies. Former Unification Minister Chung Dong-young also participated in the forum, sharing his views on ways to achieve denuclearization and peace on the peninsula.
In particular, Cho elaborated on the outcome of the summit and future steps Seoul and Pyongyang should take to enhance the inter-Korean agreement.
“The summit generated maximum achievements in that the two Koreas reaffirmed their strong determination for complete denuclearization of the peninsula, which will serve as a stepping stone for the success of the upcoming summit between Washington and Pyongyang,” Cho said.
“Denuclearization is the issue Moon and Kim should discuss for a long period of time. The two leaders shared their common goal and drew blueprints for building long-lasting peace on the peninsula ahead of the upcoming Washington-Pyongyang summit.”
The minister noted detailed steps for denuclearization will be discussed during the summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and the regime's young leader.
Cho also underlined the agreement of building an inter-Korean liaison office in the North Korean city of Gaeseong is another outstanding outcome from the summit.
“Most other agreements have been discussed during previous inter-Korean summits, but the establishment of the office is totally new,” Cho said. “The government believes the office will facilitate inter-Korean cooperation and help enhance bilateral trust.”
President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un made global headlines last Friday when they met for the first time in the southern part of the border village of Panmunjeom.
The two agreed to extend the ongoing peace momentum by holding another summit in Pyongyang sometime this autumn.
“The two Koreas have actually started a new beginning with the summit by adopting the Panmunjeom Declaration,” Cho said. “Starting with the summit, the two Koreas as well as neighboring countries also began the journey toward prosperity on the peninsula.”
Cho stressed the importance of holding as many meetings as possible with international society to win support for inter-Korean peace efforts.
“Toward that end, President Moon pledged to go forward under the clear goal of denuclearization and permanent peace on the peninsula, and Kim Jong-un also expressed his will to overcome a series of possibly ensuing difficulties in achieving the joint agreement.”