Gov't launches committee to implement Panmunjeom Declaration

Presidential chief of staff Im Jong-seok speaks at the first meeting of a committee on implementing the Panmunjeom Declaration, held in Cheong Wa Dae, Thursday. / Yonhap

By Choi Ha-young

Cheong Wa Dae has set up a steering committee comprising senior officials from relevant ministries and government agencies to carry out agreements made at last week's inter-Korean summit.

The committee held its first meeting on Thursday. Presidential chief of staff Im Jong-seok, who led the summit preparation committee, will lead the steering committee as well.

"Before each ministry sets up a system to implement the declaration, the committee will temporarily take charge of carrying out the agreements," Im said in the meeting held at Cheong Wa Dae.

"The latest summit has been successful in agreeing on denuclearization. However, we need to stay alert before the U.S.-North Korea summit."

The committee is likely to function as a mediator between government authorities. "Right now, the Ministry of National Defense has its role, while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should support the Washington-Pyongyang summit. Today the committee will review the proposals submitted by the foreign and unification ministries, and decide what to do," Im said.

Since the newly launched committee is an extension of the preparatory committee, most of the members are likely to be reappointed.

The preparatory committee was staffed with Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon, National Security Adviser Chung Eui-yong, presidential chief policy adviser Jang Ha-sung, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, Defense Minister Song Young-moo, National Intelligence Service chief Suh Hoon and Office for Government Policy Coordination Minister Hong Nam-ki.

Im, however, ruled out inter-Korean economic cooperation from the committee's agenda. "It's premature to discuss the economic cooperation which requires international consensus," Im said.

Accordingly, Finance Minister Kim Dong-yeon, who would be in charge of inter-Korean economic cooperation in the long run, did not take part in the meeting.

The formation of the committee came in line with President Moon's remark on April 30. Moon called on the government to transform the summit preparation committee into another one to secure the inter-Korean agreements signed April 27.

"Considering the realistic conditions, please accelerate the follow-up measures of the summit," Moon said aides. "Let's push ahead with tasks that could be done right away, while beginning research on those requiring better conditions."

In fulfilling the Panmunjeom Declaration, the two Koreas began removing propaganda speakers installed in the DMZ on Sunday. For the envisioned general-grade military talks, the government tapped Major General Kim Do-gyun as a top delegate.

According to the promises between the two leaders, the Koreas may also agree through military talks to withdraw heavy weaponry from the DMZ and reach a deal on the West Sea, a region that has seen frequent accidental clashes.

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