Today, on the twentieth anniversary of the June 15th North-South Joint Declaration, which was the result of the leaders of South and North Korea first ever meeting, the Korean Sharing Movement express our grave concern at recent developments in inter-Korean relations. At this time we should be utilizing and indeed developing on the spirit of that Joint Declaration of twenty years ago. Instead, the prospect of the Korean peninsula returning to the precipice of military conflict and the repeated crises of 2017 has brought with it a sense of urgency.
Twenty years ago the June 15th Joint Declaration became a turning point in inter-Korean relations, ushering in a period of reconciliation and cooperation where there had previously existed animosity and mistrust. The leaders of the South and the North agreed to resolve the question of reunification independently, through the joint efforts of the Korean people. The spirit and significance of that June 15th Joint Declaration lives on today carried through subsequent declarations. The 2007 October 4th North-South Summit Declaration, the 2018 Panmunjom Declaration, and the Pyongyang Joint Declaration of September 2018 have all helped to instill a desire for, and commitment to, reconciliation and cooperation on the Korean peninsula.
Nevertheless, we must reflect ourselves on the extent to which the agreements between South and North have been implemented. The issue of defector groups leaflet drops has been mentioned as the cause of recent strains in inter-Korean relations. However, the root cause of the strains lies with the fact that the agreements made by the South and the North have failed to be continuously implemented over time.
Since June 4th the North have stated that they will sever Panmunjom and the inter-Korean liaison office communication lines, military hotlines, the two leaders’ hotline and all other inter-Korean communication channels. North Korea has stated that all relations with the South should be completely transformed into hostile relations, this concerns us greatly in that the situation could worsen.
These inter-Korean communication channels and the inter-Korean liaison office are precious outcomes of the 2018 Panmunjom Declaration. These agreements, which took great effort for the South and North to come to, must be implemented in full and should not be subject to reversal. Inter-Korean relations must not under any circumstances return to the crisis of the war-readying situation of 2017.
The South Korean government must take measures to implement its pledges from both the 2018 Panmunjom Declaration and the Inter-Korean Comprehensive Military Agreement. These pledges included the ceasing of hostile acts such as loud speaker broadcasting and the scattering of leaflets. The government and the National Assembly must prepare as soon as possible measures to prevent leaflet drops. Furthermore, the National Assembly must also guarantee the implementation of, and make binding, inter-Korean agreements through the ratification of the 2018 Panmunjom Declaration and the Pyongyang Joint Declaration of September 2018.
The North must cease hostile remarks aimed at the South and restore inter-Korean communication channels. In particular, the statement suggesting the annulment of the Inter-Korean Comprehensive Military Agreement, so important in lowering military tension, if acted upon would be to disappoint the yearnings for peace of 80 million people on this Korean peninsula.
The Korean Sharing Movement believes it a remarkable achievement that these agreements between leaders could be reached despite the instability of inter-Korean relations. Despite the persistence of mistrust and tension on the Korean peninsula, the inter-Korean agreements are the embodiment of a commitment to dialogue and cooperation. In light of this, heightened tension and conflict between South and North are not grounds to annul agreements, but rather should form the basis for their proactive implementation.
This year marks seventy years since the outbreak of the Korean War. From partition and war, divided systems were born. The paradox of divided systems which frame, are used to justify, but also limit the actions of the other, and are maintained through the armistice, cannot be allowed to continue any longer. We call on our government for a proactive reaction and the authorities in the North to move towards forward looking dialogue for a Korean peninsula no longer stuck in the past, but striving for a future of joint prosperity. The Korean Sharing Movement, who have brought south and north together repeatedly through humanitarian cooperative projects, whilst regarding the current situation as severe, will endeavor to find and enact varied measures to develop peace on the Korean peninsula.
