Presidential Office: "No Consideration to Nullify Pyongyang Declaration"... Possibility of Loudspeaker Resumption

Presidential Office Senior Official "Before Reviewing Specific Measures"
Unavoidable Views Remain for Loudspeaker Review

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] The Presidential Office denied the prospect that, following the review of suspending the effectiveness of the September 19 Military Agreement if North Korea invades our territory again, it might also consider suspending the effectiveness of the 'September Pyongyang Joint Declaration.'

A senior official from the Presidential Office responded to Asia Economy's question about whether the suspension of the Pyongyang Joint Declaration's effectiveness is under review by saying, "Specific measures are not yet under consideration."

Former President Moon Jae-in visited North Korea on September 19, 2018, held an inter-Korean summit, and signed the Pyongyang Joint Declaration. On the same day, former Minister of National Defense Song Young-moo and former Minister of People's Armed Forces No Kwang-chol signed the September 19 Military Agreement, which is an annexed agreement to the Pyongyang Joint Declaration.

The agreement includes content that North and South Korea will end military hostilities in confrontation areas including the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and work towards the practical elimination of war risks and fundamental resolution of hostile relations throughout the Korean Peninsula.

President Yoon Suk-yeol instructed the National Security Office yesterday to "review suspending the effectiveness of the September 19 inter-Korean military agreement" in response to North Korea's intrusion of a small unmanned aerial vehicle into South Korean airspace.

Additionally, some speculated that President Yoon might also consider suspending the effectiveness of the Pyongyang Joint Declaration linked to the September 19 Military Agreement. The reasoning is that repeated provocations and violations by North Korea have nullified the military agreement, and thus the higher-level Pyongyang Joint Declaration could be collectively annulled.

However, the Presidential Office stated that this is "not true." President Yoon only referred to the September 19 agreement, which North Korea is violating, and did not mention the entire Pyongyang Joint Declaration.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Nevertheless, the government still holds the view that reviewing the Pyongyang Declaration is inevitable in the process of examining whether loudspeaker broadcasts toward North Korea can resume through suspending the effectiveness of the September 19 agreement.

The government is investigating whether the suspension of the September 19 Military Agreement, which stipulates "complete cessation of all hostile acts against the other party," would effectively nullify the punishment provisions under the Inter-Korean Relations Development Act.

Currently, the Inter-Korean Relations Development Act prohibits violations of inter-Korean agreements and stipulates that broadcasting loudspeakers toward North Korea, posting visual media (electronic billboards), or distributing leaflets near the Military Demarcation Line can result in imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to 30 million won.

However, the Pyongyang Joint Declaration also includes provisions such as "ending military hostilities," "practical elimination of war risks," and "adopting the Panmunjom Declaration Military Sector Implementation Agreement (September 19) as an annexed agreement, and thoroughly complying with and faithfully implementing it."

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