< Joint Statement of South Korean Civil Society for the Improvement of Inter-Korean Relations >

We stand here together reflective as 2020 comes to an end. A devastating pandemic has swept the globe and on the Korean Peninsula there have been no meaningful steps forward in inter-Korea relations.

After ten years of darkness under the two previous administrations with regards to Korean Peninsula peace, Korean people were hopeful for renewed cooperation between the two Koreas with the signing of the 「Panmunjom Declaration」, 「Pyongyang Joint Declaration」, and the 「Military Agreement」 two years ago. These agreements between the two Korean leaders reaffirmed the principles of autonomy and self-determination for the Korean people. We also come to an agreement to eliminate the possibility of war by ceasing all forms of hostile activities and creating buffer zones to develop trust.

But what has been gained from this? Since the Hanoi Summit broke down without a deal in February 2019, the relationship between the two Koreas seems as poor as it did three years ago. It is not only that all lines of communications between the two governments have been severed, civilian engagement has also declined significantly to a point where there is virtually no dialogue or cooperation across the border. In some sense, the situation seems even bleaker now than it was during the ten years under the previous two administrations. Excluding very brief encounters last year and in 2018, NGOs in the South have not had the chance to engage with their counterparts in the North. Korean people continue to suffer the consequences of the division. Separated families on both sides of the border in particular, have been among the greatest victims of this stalemate.

Tourist facilities at the Mt. Geumgang Complex could, at any moment, be demolished. The re-opening of the Kaesong Industrial Complex seems to be but a pipedream. The North-South Joint Liaison Office has already been destroyed. Tensions flare up around borders despite the military agreement, and the international community’s sanctions against North Korea remain one of the biggest hurdles in our efforts to build bridges between the two Koreas.

If we are to ensure consistent implementation of joint projects between North-and South, we must be able to travel utilize the land border (at Kaesong), as well as utilizing sea and sky routes. However, the United Nations Command hinders our efforts by refusing the crossing of goods and services over the DMZ, citing UN and US sanctions against North Korea. This has made civilian efforts to deliver humanitarian assistance virtually impossible.

As such, we must consider re-examining the scope of authority given to the ROK-US Working Group. Its roles and responsibilities should be so that it facilitates inter-Korea cooperation, not stands in the way of it. The ROK-US Working Group should be re-born as an institution that looks to expedite the measures agreed upon by the two Korean leaders.

We must wait no longer.

The matters of the Korean Peninsula should be dealt with by Korean people themselves, based on the principles of independence and self-determination reaffirmed in the 「Pyongyang Joint Declaration」 two years ago. We urge the government to take more proactive measures to promote this.

In particular, the government ought to take decisive measures to implement North-South joint preventative mechanisms that can halt the spread of infectious disease. This is an opportunity for a new era of cooperation between the two Koreas. The government should explore all possible avenues of cooperation, lest it be said that the Moon administration missed the window of opportunity when it is too late.

In light of the above, we would like to make clear our demands that we believe should be met, in order to set a new path of cooperation and peace between the two Koreas.

 

South Korean Civil Society’s Demands

1. We urge that the North and South Korean governments resume talks and work to implement measures agreed upon by the two leaders in the past.

North and South Korean governments must work together to create and implement North-South joint preventative mechanisms to halt the spread of infectious disease, so as to ensure the health and well-being of the Korean people.

North and South Korean governments must make it a priority to resolve humanitarian crises, such as organizing meetings between separated families.

North and South Korean governments must take all possible measures to prevent military tension, and avoid the possibilities of an eruption in conflict. We demand that both governments abstain from increasing military budgets and cease all forms of military provocations including military exercises around the border.

The government must abolish the May 24^th Measures, which have been nothing but a hindrance to peaceful cooperation between the two Koreas. Furthermore, it should work to enact laws and measures that facilitate cooperation.

In order to make sure that there be continuous, uninterrupted cooperation between North- and South Korea, it is essential that the Gyeongui Line and Donghae Line railroad are connected, and that roads and bridges are modernized, as agreed in the 「Pyongyang Joint Declaration」.

The South Korean government must come up with creative and practical measures to re-open the Kaesong Industrial Complex and resume tourism to the Mt. Geumgang tourism complex as they pledged to do.

2. We urge the incoming Biden administration in the United States and the North Korean government to work to implement measures agreed upon by the leaders in both countries at the Singapore Summit. These were to ‘denuclearize the Korean Peninsula and build a peace regime,’ and to ‘improve relations between the United States and North Korea.’

Denuclearization and peacebuilding in the Korean Peninsula are not only the wishes of the Korean people, but also of the international community. The US and North Korean government must meet their obligations to resume talks and work towards peace.

3. The international community must ease sanctions against North Korea so as to ensure that there be cooperation between the two Koreas, which is essential to building peace. Furthermore, we urge that the international community delegate its authority for sanctions exemptions in inter-Korean projects to the South Korean government. This would allow the South Korean government to take more initiatives in North-South cooperation projects that are designed to build peace, and safeguard the health and well-being of the Korean people.

 

December 17th, 2020

– Korean Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation

– Korea NGO Council for Cooperation with North Korea

– Civil Peace Forum

– The Corporates Emergency Measure Commission for Gaeseong Industrial Complex

– Investment Company Association

– Association of Inter-Korean Economic Cooperation

– Korean Conference of Religions for Peace (KCRP)