5th Anniversary of the September 19 Pyongyang Joint Declaration: What Does It Contain?

Military Tension Reduction and Inter-Korean Economic Cooperation Included
Subsidiary Agreement Faces Survival Crisis... 17 North Korean Violations Last Year

The September 19 Pyongyang Joint Declaration (September 19 Declaration) marked its 5th anniversary on the 19th. This declaration was announced after South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-il met and held a summit in 2018. Through this, the two leaders agreed on measures to reduce military tensions as well as on inter-Korean economic cooperation, including the construction of railroads and roads.

Last year, the September 19 Military Agreement (September 19 Agreement), which President Yoon Suk-yeol considered suspending, is also an ancillary agreement to the September 19 Declaration. Its main point is the complete cessation of all hostile acts to prevent armed conflicts in all domains?land, sea, and air. President Yoon’s directive to review the suspension of the agreement’s effectiveness was a warning message sent after five North Korean drones violated the airspace over the Seoul metropolitan area in December last year.

Currently, the ruling party argues that the September 19 Agreement should be terminated. Kang Min-guk, the senior spokesperson for the People Power Party, issued a statement on the day, saying, "Recently, North Korea has even engaged in military cooperation with Russia, committing illegal acts that violate UN Security Council resolutions and once again threaten peace on the Korean Peninsula," adding, "North Korea has no interest, but only the Republic of Korea must uphold this one-sided promise, which is a shackle only on our military."

Kang further emphasized, "It is time to break free from illusions and firmly respond to the ongoing provocations by North Korea. This is the minimum duty to our citizens who have been left exposed to North Korea’s threats over the past five years."

Former President Moon Jae-in and North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un are showing the Pyongyang Joint Declaration after signing it following their summit at the Baekhwawon Guesthouse on September 19, 2018.

The Ministry of Unification also criticized North Korea, stating, "Inter-Korean agreements must be based on mutual respect, and agreements that only we unilaterally uphold while North Korea does not are undesirable." According to the '2022 Defense White Paper' published by the Ministry of National Defense, there have been 17 explicit violations of the agreement by North Korea up to the end of last year since the signing of the September 19 Military Agreement.

Kim In-ae, deputy spokesperson for the Ministry of Unification, said on the day, "The government is reviewing the conditions for suspending the effectiveness of inter-Korean agreements under the Inter-Korean Relations Development Act in preparation for situations such as North Korea’s renewed provocations crossing the Military Demarcation Line," adding, "If deemed necessary in the future, appropriate measures will be taken regarding the September 19 Military Agreement."

On the other hand, former Minister of Unification Jeong Dong-young highly praised the two September 19 agreements made in 2005 and 2018 as "the golden keys to peace on the Korean Peninsula." The September 19 Joint Statement of 2005 confirmed the will for peaceful denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Former Minister Jeong criticized mentions of terminating the September 19 Agreement on KBS Radio’s 'Choi Kyung-young’s Strong Current Affairs,' saying it would jeopardize regional security and called it "a dangerous idea akin to removing a car bumper and unfastening the seatbelt yourself." He was countering the claims of Shin Won-sik, the nominee for Minister of National Defense, who mentioned that the security posture had been undermined by the September 19 inter-Korean military agreement and advocated its termination.

Former Minister Jeong expressed concern, saying, "Mentioning the termination of the September 19 Agreement is something that endangers security and should never be done by a soldier. The essence of the September 19 Agreement is to prevent accidental clashes in border areas. If it is terminated, residents in Paju, Cheorwon, Hongcheon, and Yeoncheon will enter an era where they cannot sleep peacefully, facing imminent accidental clashes."

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