Global Research

Ten years ago, the historic October 4, 2007 agreement, signed between the ROK and the DPRK set the basis for establishing peace on the Korean peninsula.

The October 4 agreement was entitled Declaration for Advancing Inter-Korean Relations and Peace and Prosperity (The complete text of the agreement is included below).

This historic agreement was subsequently scrapped by the “pro-US” ROK governments of Lee Myung-bak and (2008–2013) and Park Geun-hye (impeached in 2017). (Park Geun-hye is the daughter of military dictator president Park Chung-hee). 

The Pentagon was pulling the strings. President Lee travelled to Washington for consultations with president George W. Bush and subsequently with Obama. A more “aggressive” ROK policy largely imposed by Washington was adopted against the DPRK at the very outset of president Lee Myung-bak’s mandate.

It was hoped that President Moon Jae-in (elected in 2017 following president Park’s impeachment) who had worked closely with president Roh Moo-hyun would reinitiate the October 4 2007 process of North South Relations.

Washington has systematically worked against North-South Peace Relations. The October 4 agreement as well as the broader Sunshine Policy between the two Koreas was boycotted by the US in favor of continued militarization.

The endgame is Trump’s “fire and fury” which could lead the world into a nuclear war.

What is the choice?

The implementation of the October 4, 2007 North South Agreement or

Trump’s preparations to wage nuclear war against North Korea?

According to the Korean Committee for Solidarity with the World People,

“The October 4 Declaration is the practical thesis which expounds the goals and tasks … to further develop the inter-Korean relations at higher stages and achieve the peace and common national prosperity. Its adoption opened the broad road for the Korean nation to the vitalization of their struggle to achieve the peace and reunification on the Korean peninsula.”

The reinstatement of the October 4, 2007 agreement is the avenue to preventing nuclear war

Michel Chossudovsky, Global Research, October 12, 2017

The following is the full text of the eight-point agreement signed on October 4, 2007 by the leaders of the two Koreas at the end of their summit.

(Unofficial Translation) Declaration for Advancing Inter-Korean Relations and Peace and Prosperity President Roh Moo-hyun of the Republic of Korea visited Pyongyang during October 2-4, 2007, in accordance with the agreement between President Roh Moo-hyun and Chairman Kim Jong-il of the National Defense Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

Historic summit meetings and several talks were held during the visit.

During the summit meetings and talks, the two leaders reaffirmed the spirit of the June 15 Joint Declaration and candidly discussed agenda concerning advancement of inter-Korean relations, the realization of peace and common prosperity, and the unification of the Korean peninsula.

While expressing the belief that Koreans, when their will and strength are combined, can open a new era of national prosperity and unification, both parties declared the following on the basis of the June 15 Joint Declaration: 1. The South and the North adhere to and implement the June 15 Joint Declaration.

The South and the North will resolve the problem of unification through “the spirit of our own initiative”, and through the primacy of Korean people’s dignity and interests.

The South and the North explore measures to commemorate the day of June 15 as a commitment to the June 15th Joint Declaration.

2. The South and the North will transcend differences in ideology and institutions, thereby transforming inter-Korean relations into one of mutual respect and trust. The South and the North do not interfere in the internal affairs and resolve issues of inter-Korean relations on the principles of reconciliation, cooperation, and unification.

The South and the North will develop inter-Korean relations toward the direction of unification and adjust necessary legal institutional apparatus respectively.

The South and the North will actively seek dialogue and contacts in all fields including in the parliament, in order to address issues relating to the expansion and development of inter-Korean relations according to the wishes of the Korean people.

3. The South and the North will closely cooperate in order to terminate military hostilities, ease tension and ensure peace on the Korean peninsula.

The South and the North will not take a hostile stance towards each other, and will reduce military tension, and resolve issues of conflict through dialogue and negotiation.

The South and the North oppose any form of war on the Korean peninsula and firmly comply with the obligations of non-aggression.

The South and the North designate the common fishery zone in order to prevent accidental clashes in the West Sea. Both sides will hold Defense Ministers’ talks in Pyongyang November this year in order to discuss military confidence-building measures, including methods to foster the aforementioned zone into a zone of peace, as well as military assurance measures for various cooperative projects.

4. The South and the North share the wish to terminate the existing armistice regime and to build a permanent peace regime, and cooperate to pursue issues related to declaring the end of the Korean War by holding on the Korean Peninsula, a Three or Four party summit of directly-related sides.

The South and the North will jointly endeavor to smoothly implement the June 19 Joint Declaration and February 13 Agreement of the Six party talks in order to resolve the nuclear problem on the Korean peninsula.

5. The South and the North will actively promote, expand and develop economic cooperation projects for balanced development of national economy and common prosperity on the principles of common interest and prosperity.

The South and the North will encourage investment for economic cooperation, bolster infrastructure and develop natural resources, and provide preferential treatment and privileges concurrent with the special nature of intra-national cooperative projects.

The South and the North will establish “The West Sea Special Zone for Peace and Cooperation” encompassing Haeju area and its adjoining waters, and actively seek the designation of a common fishery zone and peace zone, construction of special economic zone, and utilization of the Haeju port, direct passage of civilian vessels to Haeju, and joint utilization of the Han River estuary.

The South and the North will complete the first phase construction of the Kaesong Industrial Complex as early as possible, and launch the second phase development, and begin railway cargo transportation linking Moonsan and Bongdong, and promptly undertake institutional measures to resolve problems including passage of people, communications and customs clearance.

The South and the North will discuss and undertake improvement of Kaesong-Shineuiju railway and Kaesong-Pyongyang highway for joint use.

The South and the North will construct ship-building cooperative complexes in Anbyun and Nampo, and promote cooperative projects in various areas, including agriculture, health, medicine and environmental protection.

The South and the North upgrade the existing “South-North Committee for Promotion of Economic Cooperation” to “South-North Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation” at the Deputy Prime Minister level in order to facilitate inter-Korean economic cooperation projects.

6. The South and the North will develop exchanges and cooperation in the fields of history, linguistics, education, science and technology, culture and arts, and sports in order to cherish the long history and proud culture of the Korean people.

The South and the North will implement the Paektu Mountain tour and establish a direct Paektu Mountain-Seoul air route.

The South and the North will send inter-Korea cheer teams to 2008 Beijing International Olympics via the Seoul-Shineuiju railway for the first time.

7. The South and the North will actively promote humanitarian cooperative projects.

The South and the North expand the reunion of separated families and relatives and promote exchange of visual materials.

To this end, both parties will have resident representatives upon the completion of Mount Keumgang Meeting Post and routinely implement the reunion of separated families and relatives.

The South and the North will actively cooperate under the principle of brotherhood, humanitarianism and mutual assistance in contingencies, including natural disasters.

8. The South and the North will strengthen cooperation for the interest of the Korean nation, and the rights and interests of overseas Korean nationals in the international arena.

The South and the North will hold the inter-Korean Prime Ministers’ Meeting in order to implement this declaration and convene its first meeting in Seoul November this year.

The South and the North will discuss issues of concern for Inter-Korean development through frequent holding of the inter-Korean summit.

SEOUL, Oct. 4 (Yonhap)