[2020 National Assembly Audit] Ambassador Lee Soo-hyuk to the US: "US Government Also Agrees on Declaration of End of War... Persuading North Korea"

"Meaning of Political Consensus, Shared Understanding in the US... Need to Foster International Environment and Inter-Korean Relations Atmosphere"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Lee Soo-hyuk, South Korean Ambassador to the United States, stated that the U.S. government is also showing a positive response to the 'Korean Peninsula End-of-War Declaration' proposal announced by President Moon Jae-in at last month's United Nations (UN) General Assembly speech, and that they are persuading North Korea with a political declaration to achieve lasting peace.

On the 11th (local time), during a National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee audit held via video conference, Ambassador Lee responded, "The U.S. reaction is that the end-of-war declaration is worth considering," adding, "If it does not contain legal implications, there is an atmosphere that related countries find it meaningful as a political declaration."

Earlier, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha also stated at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs audit on the 7th that the end-of-war declaration proposed by President Moon is a political declaration and that "we are expanding mutual understanding with the U.S."

Ambassador Lee further mentioned that the persuasion is based on the atmosphere that only North Korea's agreement is needed. He said, "As a result of contacts with senior U.S. officials, only North Korea's agreement is required," and added, "The essence is that the end-of-war declaration is effectively a declaration to proceed toward denuclearization."

He continued, "The political agreement to open the door in the denuclearization process should be made among South Korea, North Korea, and the U.S., or South Korea, North Korea, the U.S., and China," adding, "It does not have legal effects, nor does it mean the UN Command will be dissolved. However, it can have significant meaning for the peace process and denuclearization process, so we are persuading North Korea."

He emphasized the need to create an environment that allows North Korea to accept this. Ambassador Lee responded, "We must persuade North Korea to realize the end-of-war declaration and create an international environment and inter-Korean relations that can accept it," adding, "Efforts to guide North Korea's position must continue." However, he noted that the resolution urging the end-of-war declaration currently submitted to the U.S. House of Representatives is unlikely to be adopted in this session.

Additionally, Ambassador Lee predicted that if Joe Biden, the U.S. Democratic presidential candidate, is elected, top-down diplomacy regarding the North Korean nuclear issue will not be maintained. In response to a question from Democratic Party lawmaker Jeon Hae-cheol about changes in top-down diplomacy, he said, "If the Democrats come to power, it will not be like that," and added, "Based on experience, it is expected that the president will approve proposals reviewed and suggested from the bottom up rather than top-down." He also forecasted, "If President Trump is re-elected, the top-down approach may be maintained or strengthened."

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