Moon calls Panmunjeom declaration a historic new start

Presidential secretaries applaud as President Moon Jae-in enters a meeting at Cheong Wa Dae, Monday, in celebration of a meaningful outcome at Friday's inter-Korean summit and in appreciation of Moon and his staff's efforts. / Yonhap

By Kim Rahn

The joint declaration by the leaders of South and North Korea, announced after Friday's inter-Korean summit, is a "historic start" for a new Korean Peninsula, President Moon Jae-in said Monday.

He called on the government to transform the summit preparation committee into one ensuring agreements made at the bilateral talks were carried out properly.

Moon made these remarks in a meeting with presidential secretaries at Cheong Wa Dae, the first official event since the summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at Panmunjeom. There, the two leaders agreed on the goals of making the peninsula nuclear-free, and declaring an end to the 1950-53 Korean War this year.

"The Panmunjeom declaration is a historic start that opens the era of a new Korean Peninsula," Moon said. "(It) is a declaration of peace, which affirms to the world that there will be no more war and nuclear threats on the Korean Peninsula. I'm confident that a new era of peace will unfold through the two Korea's efforts and trust-building to relieve military tension, such as transforming the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) into a peace zone."

He said not only the Korean people but also the international community are offering support for the outcome of the summit, especially U.S. President Donald Trump who said the Korean War would end. Moon also expressed his gratitude to Kim for showing sincerity for the success of the summit.

Moon said the declaration would also provide opportunities for the two Koreas' co-prosperity and help them improve relations sustainably through various dialogue channels and a joint liaison office in Gaeseong.

"With the declaration, the South and the North agreed on a common goal of realizing complete denuclearization and a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula. I'm sure this is what the whole world hoped for, and will be a starting point for a big change in world history. Through the declaration, we have to make the era of peace and prosperity irreversible."

But he noted this was only the beginning and many follow-up measures were required.

Moon ordered his staff to transform the summit preparation committee into one supervising all related ministries' work to carry out agreements made at the summit.

He added follow-up measures should be conducted fast, ordering the secretaries to get started on what could be done immediately.

"The government also needs to make every necessary effort for the success of the following Washington-Pyongyang summit. The two Koreas and the U.S. should cooperate closely through a three-way dialogue channel, and further international support is required," he said.

The President also mentioned the need to get National Assembly ratification of the inter-Korean agreements so that they can continue to be carried out regardless of political changes. "But it's undesirable for the ratification issue to be another bone of political contention. I hope the agreements can gain nonpartisan support."

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