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South Korean President Moon Jae-in gives a speech during the UN General Assembly in New York on Sept. 24. (Blue House photo pool)
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S. Korean president addresses UN General Assembly
South Korean President Moon Jae-in called on the global community to “transform the DMZ into an international peace zone” in remarks on Sept. 24 during a visit to the US. His message is seen as reflecting his own thoughts about how to reduce both tensions on the Korean Peninsula and North Korea’s fears regarding regime security through cooperation by the international community. Addressing the 74th annual UN General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York that day, President Moon called for “designat[ing] the area connecting Panmunjom and Gaeseong in North Korea as a Peace and Cooperation District and transform[ing] it into a zone where both Koreas and the international community can jointly explore the path to prosperity on the Korean Peninsula.” “[I]f the DMZ comes to house UN offices already stationed in the two Koreas and other international organizations related to peace, ecology, and culture and emerge as a center for research on peace, peacekeeping, arms control and trust building, it can become an international peace zone in name as well as substance,” he predicted. “Once peace is established between the two Koreas, I will work together with North Korea to inscribe the DMZ as a UNESCO World Heritage Site,” he pledged. In particular, Moon suggested that UN agencies work together on clearing landmines from the DMZ. “Approximately 380,000 anti-personnel mines are laid in the DMZ, and it is expected to take 15 years for South Korean troops to remove them on their own,” he noted. “However, cooperation with the international community, including the United Nations Mine Action Service, will not only guarantee the transparency and stability of demining operations, but also instantly turn the DMZ into an area of international cooperation,” he continued. The proposal to develop the DMZ into a peace zone is seen as having the aim of enlisting involvement by the international community to reduce tensions on the peninsula and allay Pyongyang’s security concerns at a time when North Korea’s demands for regime security guarantees and sanctions relief are pitted sharply against the US’s insistence on denuclearization first. The idea is that participation by the international community alongside South and North Korea in creating a peace zone stands to benefit both sides, giving the North a sense of security while reducing the risk of war for the South. In particular, a scenario like the one Moon envisions – with the UN Mine Action Service and various other international organizations taking up residence in the DMZ to form a complex there – is very likely to markedly reduce conventional military clashes between the two sides. Moon also said, “South Korea will guarantee the security of North Korea. I hope North Korea will do the same for South Korea.” “When the security of both sides is assured, it will become possible to accelerate denuclearization and the establishment of a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula,” he added. He further said that “establishment of an international peace zone will provide an institutional and realistic guarantee to North Korea’s security. At the same time, South Korea will also be able to gain permanent peace.” “If North Korea makes sincere efforts to implement denuclearization, the international community should also reciprocate,” he said. Says trilateral dialogue and economic cooperation in the works In a possible nod to the imminent commencement of North Korea-US talks, Moon stressed that trilateral dialogue and economic cooperation were under way. “The negotiating table for peace on the Peninsula still remains accessible. The two Koreas and the United States are setting their sights not only on denuclearization and peace, but also on the economic cooperation that will follow thereafter,” he said. Referring to the North Korean and US leaders stepping over the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) at Panmunjom on June 30, he said, “I hope both leaders will take yet another huge step from there.” He also made repeated reference to three rules for resolving Korean Peninsula issues, namely the unacceptability of war, mutual security guarantees, and shared prosperity. “I hope that the international community’s support and cooperation will enable the miracle of swords being turned into plowshares to take place on the Korean Peninsula,” he said. Meanwhile, Moon also used his address to indirectly call for changes from Japan rather than directly criticizing in its trade retaliation measures. “We will be able to make further progress when we cooperate while safeguarding the values of free and fair trade upon the foundation of an earnest self-reflection on past history,” he said. By Seong Yeon-cheol, staff reporter Please direct comments or questions to [english@hani.co.kr]
