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The South Korean government is pushing to establish a roadmap for a peace regime on the peninsula based on the so-called peace declaration, a move that it hopes will replace the current armistice agreement which put an temporary end to the 1950-53 Korean War.

The Korean War ended with an armistice signed by North Korea, China and the United States. South Korea did not participate in the signing of the treaty as it opposed bringing the war to an end. Therefore, the North and South are still technically at war.

To that end, the presidential office of Chong Wa Dae, the Foreign Ministry, the Unification Ministry and other related government agencies have reportedly created a joint task force, through which they are now preparing a roadmap for a peace regime on the Korean peninsula, with a plan to complete the process over the weekend.

The roadmap will contain a peace declaration for the peninsula and the government is reportedly planning to urge the two Koreas, the United States and China to endorse it and guarantee its implementation. The government is taking under consideration that final approval of the declaration will come at a summit among the four countries, sources said.

A governmental official said, on condition of anonymity, “One of the options on the table was that we declare an end to the war and collaborate with the North to implement a peace regime. But the idea was excluded since there was no system that could replace the current armistice during the period between the declaration of the war’s end and the establishment of a peace regime.” He added that a declaration to end the war is not enough to cover a peace regime. “Currently, we are considering accelerating the peace process by proclaiming a roadmap for peace.”

A government source close to the ongoing talks said, “If the six-party negotiations are successfully concluded and the meeting of foreign ministers from the six nations involved in the talks, which are slated for August, ends in progress, [the government] will assist with efforts to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue in any way, either through an inter-Korean summit or a multilateral summit.”

The South Korean government proposed last month that the inter-Korean ministerial talks be held about a month ahead of the previously-scheduled date. It is expected that the North and South will discuss issues related to establishing a peace regime on the peninsula at the talks, if it is held late this month or in early August, which is earlier than had originally been planned.

Meanwhile, Unification Minister Lee Jae-joung said, “I think the government is soon likely to make a proposal [regarding the peace regime on the Korean peninsula].” In a meeting with reporters after returning from a three-day visit to Mt. Geumgang, Lee added, “I cannot elaborate on the exact time frame under which the government will make the proposal before August 15, but I think that even partial negotiations should be carried out.”

As for the 13th general meeting of the National Unification Advisory Council slated for July 19, Lee said he expects that President Roh Moo-hyun may make some meaningful comments on peace in the region and inter-Korean relations, as the North is now moving to carry out the first phase of a Feb. 13 agreement to shutdown its nuclear facilities. However, Chun Ho-seon, spokesman for Cheong Wa Dae, dismissed the comments as nothing more than Lee’s personal opinion.

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