Former President Moon: "Rising Tensions on the Korean Peninsula Are Undesirable... We Could Lose Both Peace and Economy"

Former President Moon Jae-in and Former Minister Im Dong-won Autobiography Congratulatory Message
"We Must Reverse the Situation Before It's Too Late"
Artillery Fire in North Korea's West Sea and East Sea Buffer Zones the Previous Day

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Former President Moon Jae-in stated on the 19th that despite the ongoing security crisis caused by North Korea's successive provocations, "only diplomacy and dialogue can create peace."

On the same day, former President Moon conveyed this message through a congratulatory message at the publication celebration of the autobiography "Again, Peace" by former Minister of Unification Lim Dong-won (currently Honorary Chairman of the Korea Peninsula Peace Forum). He expressed concern, saying, "Just like the title of former Minister Lim's autobiography, 'Again, Peace' is urgently needed at this moment," and added, "With the international order in turmoil and the economy already struggling, escalating military tensions on the Korean Peninsula are absolutely undesirable. We could lose both peace and the economy."

Former President Moon said, "Before it is too late, we must reverse the situation to move toward 'Again, Peace,'" and emphasized, "Along with managing the situation to reduce the risk of armed conflict and military tensions, more proactive efforts are needed to restore dialogue." He added, "Just as a bright morning comes after a dark night, if we unite our will and combine our strength, peace will return again," stressing, "Peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula are our future that we can never give up."

Former President Moon's congratulatory message at the publication event is interpreted as emphasizing diplomacy and dialogue despite North Korea's successive military provocations.

However, North Korea's provocations continue. The Joint Chiefs of Staff announced that on the previous day at 10 p.m. and 11 p.m., North Korea conducted artillery fire in the West Sea and East Sea. The impact points were identified within the maritime buffer zone north of the Northern Limit Line (NLL) according to the September 19 Military Agreement. In response, the military authorities warned North Korea, stating, "This is a clear violation of the September 19 Military Agreement, and the provocations must stop immediately."

The September 19 Military Agreement is a military accord adopted as an annex to the Pyongyang Joint Declaration in September 2018 by former President Moon and North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un. Among the agreement's provisions is a ban on artillery fire within the maritime buffer zone. North Korea claims that this firing was a response to South Korea's military provocations.

Meanwhile, regarding former Minister Lim's autobiography, former President Moon evaluated it as "a record of the twists and turns of modern Korean history and a journey of peace," and described it as "a significant historical achievement and a record of anguish left by dedicating over 30 years of the latter half of his life entirely as a 'peacemaker.'" He particularly introduced Lim's role in contributing to the first inter-Korean summit in 2000 and the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration, stating, "It became a towering milestone enabling the democratic government to advance toward a peaceful and prosperous unified nation."

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