Moon's First Post-Retirement Message on Current Issues: "Cannot Give Up on Korean Peninsula Peace and Denuclearization Even for a Moment"

"Peace Does Not Come Automatically and No One Can Make It for You"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] Former President Moon Jae-in emphasized on the 4th anniversary of the September 19 Military Agreement that "Peace and denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula are the long-cherished wishes of our people that cannot be abandoned for even a moment." This is the first time former President Moon has officially commented on current issues since leaving office.

Former President Moon's congratulatory message was released on the 18th through a press release by Yoon Gun-young, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea who served as the Chief of the National Situation Room at the Blue House during the Moon Jae-in administration, one day before the 'September 19 Military Agreement Commemorative Forum.'

Former President Moon stated, "Peace does not come on its own, nor does anyone create it on our behalf," adding, "We ourselves must become the leaders in cultivating peace on the Korean Peninsula and pursue it unwaveringly in order to make even a single step forward."

He continued, "Although the wall of distrust between North and South remains high and the diplomatic and security situation is challenging, it is only when we overcome and navigate these circumstances from a proactive stance without pessimism that we can truly move toward the path of peace."

Regarding the September 19 Military Agreement, former President Moon said, "It conveyed to the world the will to end the history of conflict, confrontation, and hostility, marking the 'beginning of a war-free Korean Peninsula,'" and added, "By adopting the inter-Korean military agreement as a supplementary agreement, practical measures were agreed upon to drastically reduce military risks," highlighting its significance.

He also mentioned inter-Korean agreements including the September 19 Military Agreement, the June 15 Declaration, and the Panmunjom Declaration, saying, "All of these were historic agreements made through sincere dialogue and negotiations, putting ourselves in each other's shoes despite difficult circumstances," and emphasized, "These promises must be respected and implemented even if the government changes." He further stated, "North Korea must not repeatedly break these agreements," and added, "When both North and South work together to uphold the agreements, trust will build, and the path to dialogue can be sought."

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