Government Officializes Discussion on 'End of War Declaration'... Ruling and Opposition Parties Clash over 'Resolution to Urge End of War Declaration'

Government Mobilizes Diplomatic and Security Lines to Expand Discussions with the US
Public Criticism of China's Mention of 'End-of-War Declaration' in North Korea Shooting Incident... Key Issue is North Korea and US Reactions

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] As the ruling and opposition parties continue their disputes over the 'Resolution Urging the Declaration of the End of the War' in the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, the government has announced its plan to officially bring discussions on the 'Declaration of the End of the War' with the United States to the table. The key issue moving forward is whether the Moon Jae-in administration's push for the declaration of the end of the war can elicit responses from both the U.S. and North Korea amid conflicting accounts between the two sides regarding the shooting of a South Korean official by North Korea, which requires further investigation. If North Korea remains unresponsive and the U.S. shows a negative stance, this could backfire on the government.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 28th, Lee Do-hoon, Director General for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who is scheduled to meet with U.S. officials including Stephen Biegun, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State and Special Representative for North Korea, by the 30th, expressed his intention to bring the 'Korean Peninsula Declaration of the End of the War' to the discussion table with the U.S. On the 27th (local time), at Dulles Airport near Washington D.C., he told reporters in response to a question about whether the declaration would be discussed, "We will talk about all current issues," adding, "Of course, we plan to discuss the declaration of the end of the war." Regarding whether the declaration would be pushed before the U.S. presidential election in November, he said, "We will talk about it," and added, "We plan to discuss what the U.S. side is thinking."

Lee's remarks indirectly reveal the South Korean government's strong will to pursue the declaration of the end of the war with the U.S. President Moon Jae-in mentioned the declaration three times in his keynote speech at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly on the 23rd (Korean time) to revive the fading momentum of the declaration since the breakdown of the Hanoi summit in February 2019. However, public criticism increased following the incident where a South Korean official, Mr. Lee, was shot and killed by North Korean forces.

Moreover, there are significant internal hurdles to overcome. Regarding the 'Resolution Urging the Declaration of the End of the War,' the ruling party has proposed discussing it through the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee's bill subcommittee as per procedure after its submission, while the opposition party strongly opposes this and insists that the resolution should be withdrawn and discussed in the agenda adjustment committee. The opposition argues that it is premature for the National Assembly to discuss the related resolution amid heightened public anger over the Yeonpyeong Island shooting incident.

While President Moon and the diplomatic and security lines appear to be making every effort to realize the declaration of the end of the war, another key factor is the attitude of North Korea and the U.S. North Korea has yet to issue any position regarding the declaration through state media or other channels. Experts speculate that the government might push for the declaration again, citing North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un's unusually swift apology, but it is uncertain whether the North will respond positively. The U.S., facing pressing issues such as the upcoming November presidential election, COVID-19, and protests against racial discrimination, is also uncertain whether it will take proactive steps regarding the declaration of the end of the war.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

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