Our goal is to end Korean War this year: FM

Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha speaks during a press briefing held at the ministry building in central Seoul, Monday. The briefing was held marking Kang's first year as minister. / Yonhap

By Kim Bo-eun

Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said Monday the government wants to declare an end to the 1950-53 Korean War with North Korea and the U.S. within the year.

Although this was stated in the Panmunjeom Declaration for an agreement reached at the inter-Korean summit April 27, it was not specified in the joint agreement concluded at the North Korea-U.S. summit last week.

“It is the government's goal to push for it to be done within this year,” Kang said in a press briefing at the Foreign Ministry building in Seoul, marking her first year as foreign minister.

“Flexibility could be exercised in timing and format.”

There had been speculation that a declaration could be made in Singapore after the North Korea-U.S. summit, with President Moon Jae-in joining the leaders there. However, this did not happen, and questions arose over when the declaration could be made. Some say that it could be made July 27 _ the day the armistice was signed in 1953 _ or at the UN General Assembly in September.

Further complicating the matter is the issue of China's participation in the declaration.

The Panmunjeom Declaration states that the Koreas and the U.S. hold three-way talks or the Koreas, the U.S. and China hold four-party talks with the aim to end the Korean War by the end of this year.

The U.S. and China are involved because the signatories of the armistice were commanders of North Korea, China and U.S.-led UN forces.

“I believe China can play an important role and we will have close consultation with China on the matter,” Kang said.

Meanwhile, Kang said she spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo the same day, before the briefing, and stated follow-up talks between the U.S. and North Korea will soon take place.

“He stated that he would sit down with North Korean officials as soon as circumstances allow,” Kang said. “It is Secretary Pompeo's intentions to push forward with this process with speed.”

The agreement reached at the North Korea-U.S. summit states the countries commit to holding follow-up talks led by Pompeo and a North Korean official who was not specified at the earliest possible date.

Kang did not comment on expectations of who the North Korean official would be.

About criticism that the agreement derived from the Singapore summit lacked details about North Korea's denuclearization, Kang said “considering that it was the first meeting between the leaders and that there wasn't much time for preparations, it may have been excessive to hold expectations that the agreement would include details.”

“North Korea's denuclearization was stated firmly in the agreement and I believe the willingness of the leaders to re-establish bilateral relations was important,” she added.

Kang also stated “the goal is dismantlement of North Korea's entire nuclear program, including nuclear weapons, facilities and plants” and that “inspection and verification are clearly needed” in the process.