[Full Text] President Moon's Congratulatory Speech at the 20th Anniversary Ceremony of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] Fellow citizens, distinguished guests, thank you for joining us on this meaningful occasion marking the 20th anniversary of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration.

On this joyful day commemorating the historic declaration, I should be reflecting on its great achievements and how far we have advanced toward a peaceful Korean Peninsula. However, I regret and feel sorry that recent circumstances prevent me from doing so.

Recently, North Korea has criticized our government and some defector groups for distributing leaflets to the North, and has closed communication channels, causing concern among the people that inter-Korean relations might regress into confrontation. We have always proceeded cautiously, as if walking on thin ice, to take even a single step forward, but I feel we have not done enough.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Given our difficult situation, I am reminded of the courage and wisdom of President Kim Dae-jung, who overcame numerous setbacks and harsh ideological attacks to ultimately hold the inter-Korean summit. On June 15, 2000, for the first time in 50 years since the outbreak of the Korean War, the leaders of the North and South were able to sit face to face because both believed in the power of dialogue.

The June 15 North-South Joint Declaration led to the reconnection of severed railroads and roads, and the start of the Mount Kumgang tourism and Kaesong Industrial Complex projects. The lives of 60,000 separated families were confirmed, and 24,000 reunited. The Kaesong Industrial Complex housed 125 companies, beginning a joint economy with 55,000 North Korean workers, and 2 million South Koreans visited Mount Kumgang. All these were achievements made possible by dialogue.

In 2017, when the clouds of war darkened the Korean Peninsula, the leaders of the North and South were able to meet again because both were committed to continuing the spirit of the June 15 Joint Declaration. Through the power of dialogue, we successfully held the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics as a Peace Olympics, and the first-ever North Korea?United States summit was initiated.

The Korean Peninsula is still not in a situation where the North and South can freely advance solely by their own will. We must proceed slowly, gaining the consent of the international community.

However, there are certainly projects that the North and South can undertake independently. Above all, the most important thing is trust between the North and South. We must continuously build trust through unceasing dialogue.

Fellow citizens, distinguished guests, the uncomfortable and difficult issues we face must be resolved through communication and cooperation. We must not allow discord and misunderstanding to block our efforts toward peace and coexistence.

I am well aware of Chairman Kim Jong-un’s efforts to fundamentally change the situation on the Korean Peninsula. I also deeply regret that progress in North Korea?United States and inter-Korean relations has not met expectations.

However, the promise of peace on the Korean Peninsula that Chairman Kim Jong-un and I made before the 80 million Korean people cannot be reversed. Our government will not let go of the thread of communication and will continuously strive to implement the April 27 Panmunjom Declaration and the September 19 Pyongyang Joint Declaration. In the Panmunjom Declaration, the North and South agreed to cease all hostile acts, including leaflet distribution, in the military demarcation line area.

Previous inter-Korean agreements, including the July 4 North-South Joint Statement and the Basic Agreement, have repeatedly affirmed the same intent. These are agreements that anyone who wishes for peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula must uphold. I ask the people to unite their hearts to ensure these agreements are honored. I also urge North Korea not to close the door to dialogue. Even if there are barriers, I hope we can gather wisdom through dialogue and overcome them together.

The June 15 North-South Joint Declaration was a warm breeze that settled in the hearts of our people and a historic declaration that changed the fate of the Korean Peninsula. We were finally able to feel that reconciliation and peace on the Peninsula are not just vague dreams.

Peace is the economy, jobs, and our very lives. Peace does not come overnight. The harder it gets, the more we must start with “small things, what is possible.” Peace will not be brought by anyone else. We must pioneer our destiny ourselves. This is a task that the North and South must undertake together.

I remember President Kim Dae-jung’s sentiment: “Our Korean people must coexist and prosper together, hand in hand, soaring as a world-class nation in the new 21st century.” We will surely open an era of solidarity and cooperation between the North and South for peace and prosperity.

Thank you.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.