Yoon Seok-yeol: "Moon's 'End-of-War Declaration' Has Significant Side Effects"... Proposes Regular ROK-North US Talks on North Korean Nuclear Issues

Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, is holding a press conference at the Seoul Foreign Correspondents' Club in the Korea Press Center, Jung-gu, Seoul on the 12th. 2021.11.12 Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers Group [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-joo] Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, stated on the 12th that regarding the 'end-of-war declaration' proposed by President Moon Jae-in in his UN speech, "If the end of the war is separated and made into a political declaration, its side effects could be quite significant."

At a press briefing hosted by the Seoul Foreign Correspondents' Club held at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, Yoon said, "Currently, there is a ceasefire management system between South and North Korea, but with North Korea continuing to strengthen its nuclear armament, it is quite difficult to conclude a peace agreement between the two Koreas that has legal effect under international law." He added, "However, if only a political declaration of the end of the war is made first, the ceasefire management system could easily be nullified, and the UN Command's rear base in Japan could also be easily undermined, which could cause serious security problems for the Republic of Korea in case of an emergency," responding to a question from the Russian media 'Sputnik.'

He continued, "If North Korea's denuclearization progresses irreversibly and a broad economic cooperation relationship is established, the peace agreement and end-of-war declaration can certainly proceed together. But in the current situation, its meaning is weak or there is a very high possibility of sending the wrong signal to South Korea." When asked by foreign media whether he opposes President Moon's end-of-war declaration, he reiterated, "At present, I oppose it."

Regarding the Six-Party Talks, Yoon evaluated, "There were no satisfactory results." He then proposed, "Whether at Panmunjom or, if North Korea wishes, Washington is also fine, let's establish a permanent trilateral meeting place for South Korea, North Korea, and the United States to discuss the North Korean nuclear issue."

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