The Declaration for the Advancement of South-North Korean Relations, Peace and Prosperity signed by President Roh Moo-hyun and Chairman Kim Jong-il on October 4 can be called a historic document offering a new milestone for inter-Korean relations and peace on the Korean peninsula. The declaration contains not only the future course of various fields such as the military, peace, economic cooperation, mutual exchange, humanitarian issues and reunification but also concrete plans to carry them out, on the basis of advanced inter-Korean relations. The two leaders were able to reach agreement in such a short time because there was consensus between them in terms of their outlook on, and recognition of, the existing situation.

An epochal agreement

The most remarkable thing is that the two sides have agreed to create a “special peace and cooperation zone in the West Sea,” integrating peace and economic cooperation. The project in relation to the so-called “peace zone,” encompassing Haeju and the surrounding vicinity in the North, includes the designation of a joint fishing zone and maritime peace zone, the construction of a special economic zone, the utilization of Haeju Port and the joint use of the Han River estuary. Military talks that will resume next month in Pyongyang are expected to focus on preparing military guarantees necessary to designate the joint fishing zone and peace waters. It means the creation of a model in which peace and co-prosperity will form a virtuous cycle on the western side of the Korean peninsula. The designation of this zone will be highly useful toward resolving the problem of the Northern Limit Line in the West Sea.

The two Koreas have agreed to work together with the leaders of the three or four parties directly concerned to declare an end to the war. It is meaningful in that the South and the North have taken the initiative on discussing the establishment of a peace regime on the peninsula. Such an attempt will greatly progress the peace environment on the peninsula when integrated with the agreement, made by Seoul and Pyongyang at the close of the second inter-Korean summit, to work together to put an end to military hostilities, ease tension and guarantee peace on the peninsula. The declaration also stated that the two sides will make joint efforts to solve the North’s nuclear issue.

In connection with inter-Korean economic cooperation, which has been actively pursued since the first summit in 2000, the two sides will further develop existing businesses and diversify the fields in which they are working. Inter-Korean cooperation related to building infrastructure in the North, such as repairing the Gaeseong-Sinuiju railway and the Gaeseong-Pyongyang expressway for joint use and establishing cooperative complexes for shipbuilding in Anbyeon and Nampo, is anticipated to lead inter-Korean economic cooperation on a new level. The opening of non-stop flights between Seoul and Mount Baekdu to carry out tours to the scenic mountain will certainly contribute to promoting inter-Korean reconciliation and exchange beyond the level of tourism.

If the two leaders frequently meet and discuss pending issues according to the Declaration, an inter-Korean summit will be held on a continual basis. The joint document did not specify Chairman Kim’s return visit to Seoul, but the next round of summit talks should take place in Seoul. A regularized inter-Korean summit will upgrade the level of inter-Korean relations to an earlier stage of Korean confederation, under which the two Koreas maintain national sovereignty. At the same time, their two economies will be closely integrated into one by producing a synergistic effect when combined with the Inter-Korean Economic Cooperation Promotion Committee, whose status will be upgraded to the Joint Committee for Inter-Korean Economic Cooperation to be headed by deputy prime minister-level officials, and the inter-Korean prime ministers’ talks to be held next month in Seoul.

Related to the issue of separated families, the two leaders have agreed to station resident representatives from each side at a reunion center at Mount Geumgang upon its completion and push ahead with family reunions. However, the Declaration did not mention prisoners of war. The two Koreas should find ways to resolve the problem at high-level talks through future-oriented approaches.

Roh and Kim have agreed to overhaul their respective legislative and institutional apparatuses in a bid to develop inter-Korean relations in a direction leading toward reunification, indicating that they will treat the National Security Law of the South and platforms and regulations of the North Korean Workers’ Party according to a spirit of mutual understanding. As of now, they should inevitably choose to do this. The two leaders have also agreed not to interfere in the internal affairs of the other so as to escape unnecessary conflicts.

The Korean Peninsula is the only “Cold War island” left in the world. If a reorganization of order is not achieved according to the will of surrounding powers, it is highly possible that those nations will want to maintain the status quo. Under these circumstances, South and North Korea need to resolutely throw out their existing thinking and practices in order to accomplish peace and prosperity. As is shown in the fact that the South’s GDP is more than ten times that of the North, the competition between the two regimes has already ended. The North took a contradictory attitude in the summit in that they want the South to aggressively invest in the communist land, while at the same time, they remain passive in improving environment which could facilitate the South’s investment. They have the desire to achieve peace and reunification but are hesitant to reform and open their nation. The Declaration reflects the North’s overall mindset.

Lasting peace only achieved through faithful implementation

The second inter-Korean summit has obtained more successful results than anticipated but it does not indicate that inter-Korean relations will progress smoothly. Faithfully implementing the next steps is crucial. Most of the details of the declaration will not be hard to execute even after the presidential election in the South in December. The government will have to do its best to build a foundation for their implementation during Roh’s remaining term in office and the nation’s political arena will have to see this from a broad point of view, irrespective of partisan interests. If the two Koreas cooperate with an eye on reunification, they will eventually be able to achieve peace and prosperity on the peninsula.

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]