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President Lee: Panmunjom Declaration's core is coexistence, prosperity

From Hankyoreh · (5m ago) Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • South Korean President Lee Jae-myung emphasized that the core principles of the Panmunjom Declaration are inter-Korean coexistence and prosperity, calling it an essential future path.
  • He stated that his administration will steadfastly pursue a 'Korean Peninsula Coexistence Policy' and urged North Korea to respond in good faith.
  • Despite the current 'hostile two-state' reality, President Lee expressed belief that peace and prosperity can be achieved through persistent efforts, likening it to building a mountain by accumulating soil.

President Lee Jae-myung has reaffirmed his commitment to the principles enshrined in the Panmunjom Declaration, characterizing inter-Korean coexistence and shared prosperity as the 'essential future' for the Korean Peninsula. Speaking at the 8th anniversary commemoration of the declaration, President Lee, whose remarks were read by Senior Political Affairs Secretary Hong Ik-pyo, stressed that his administration will unwavering pursue a policy of peaceful coexistence.

The cessation of war and a permanent peace regime, inter-Korean coexistence and prosperity are the core spirit of the Panmunjom Declaration and the future we must go to.

โ€” President Lee Jae-myungStating the fundamental goals of the Panmunjom Declaration during its 8th anniversary commemoration.

"Our government will steadfastly pursue a 'Korean Peninsula Coexistence Policy,'" President Lee stated, underscoring a proactive approach to rebuilding trust between the two Koreas. He expressed anticipation for North Korea's reciprocal engagement, stating, "We expect the North Korean side to respond to our government's sincerity."

Our government will steadfastly pursue a 'Korean Peninsula Coexistence Policy.'

โ€” President Lee Jae-myungAnnouncing the administration's continued commitment to inter-Korean peace.

Reflecting on the optimism of April 27, 2018, when the declaration was signed, President Lee acknowledged the subsequent divergence from that hopeful path. "Unfortunately, those promises have not been kept," he lamented, pointing to the current reality of a 'cold and high wall' separating the two states as 'hostile nations.' Yet, he maintained that pursuing peace and prosperity is a shared destiny, emphasizing that "war and confrontation lead not to coexistence but to mutual destruction."

We expect the North Korean side to respond to our government's sincerity.

โ€” President Lee Jae-myungExpressing hope for North Korea's positive response to South Korea's peace initiatives.

President Lee reiterated his government's core principles: respecting the North Korean regime, eschewing absorption-style unification, and refraining from any hostile acts. He concluded with a message of enduring hope, comparing the effort to build peace and shared growth to the proverb '์ ํ† ์„ฑ์‚ฐ' (jeoktoseongsan), meaning to build a mountain by accumulating soil. This analogy conveys a belief that persistent, incremental efforts will eventually lead to a flourishing spring on the peninsula, a perspective deeply rooted in the South Korean desire for lasting peace and stability, often viewed with a mix of hope and pragmatic caution internationally.

Unfortunately, those promises have not been kept. The future of peace and prosperity has not yet arrived, and the space between the South and the North is blocked by a cold and high wall of 'hostile two states.'

โ€” President Lee Jae-myungAcknowledging the stalled progress in inter-Korean relations since the Panmunjom Declaration.
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Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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