Kim Jong-un Calls for "Nuclear Deterrence"... President Moon Again Advocates for "End-of-War Declaration"

Moon Seeks to Revive Fading Denuclearization Talks
Kim Jong-un Emphasizes "Nuclear Deterrence" and Backtracks on Agreement
Trump: "North Korea Must Achieve Final, Fully Verified Denuclearization"

President Moon Jae-in is delivering a keynote speech via video at the 75th United Nations General Assembly held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, USA, on the morning of the 23rd (Korean time).

As North Korea-U.S. denuclearization talks have stalled and inter-Korean relations have entered a prolonged deadlock, President Moon Jae-in has once again brought up the 'Korean Peninsula End-of-War Declaration.'

The 'End-of-War Declaration' literally means declaring the end of the war, that is, the conclusion of the Korean War which has not officially ended for 70 years. Although it carries strong political and symbolic significance and lacks legal enforceability, the declaration effectively removes the justification for military actions by both opposing sides. It can serve as an opportunity to break the vicious cycle of mutual military build-up driven by perceived threats from the other side.

Generally, the End-of-War Declaration is made simultaneously with a peace agreement, but with the North Korea-U.S. denuclearization talks at an impasse, concluding a peace agreement is practically impossible at this time.

In this context, President Moon is evaluated to have expressed his determination to revive the fading spark of denuclearization talks and to restart the stalled Korean Peninsula peace process through the End-of-War Declaration.

◆ President Moon: "We Must End the Tragic Situation Remaining on the Korean Peninsula with the End-of-War Declaration"

On the 23rd (Korean time; morning of the 22nd New York time), President Moon said, "Now, the war on the Korean Peninsula must be completely and permanently ended," adding, "I believe the beginning of this is the Korean Peninsula 'End-of-War Declaration,' where we can confirm each other's will for peace."

In his keynote speech at the 75th United Nations General Assembly held at the UN headquarters in New York, President Moon stated, "The End-of-War Declaration will be the door that opens the path to a 'permanent peace regime' along with denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula."

President Moon emphasized, "Especially this year marks the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War," and said, "It is time to end the tragic situation remaining on the Korean Peninsula."

Although peace on the Korean Peninsula remains unfinished and halted, President Moon said South Korea will continue dialogue and requested the international community's support and cooperation.

This is not the first time President Moon has called for international efforts to expedite the End-of-War Declaration in his UN General Assembly speeches. In his 2018 UN General Assembly speech, he said, "I expect bold measures for denuclearization to be implemented among relevant countries and to lead to an End-of-War Declaration."

North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong Un held an expanded meeting of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party on the 8th and discussed measures for disaster recovery in the Kumdok area of South Hamgyong Province, which was damaged by Typhoon Maysak, No. 9, the Korean Central Television reported on the 9th.

◆ North Korea Threatens "New Strategic Weapons" Instead of Denuclearization... Possibility Uncertain

However, since the 'no deal' outcome of the Hanoi North Korea-U.S. summit in February last year, the denuclearization talks have been at a standstill, and the likelihood of the End-of-War Declaration becoming a reality remains low.

So far, the U.S. has demanded preemptive denuclearization measures from North Korea and has mentioned the 'End-of-War Declaration' as a corresponding measure. Given that North Korea has not shown tangible progress in denuclearization, the U.S. is reluctant to proceed with the End-of-War Declaration.

In particular, although the U.S. has recently sent messages such as humanitarian aid to North Korea, it maintains a tough stance regarding denuclearization.

On the 21st (local time), U.S. President Donald Trump stated at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference that efforts toward North Korea's "final, fully verified denuclearization" (FFVD) must continue.

According to the speeches posted on the IAEA website, President Trump said in a message to the conference on its opening day, "We must continue efforts toward North Korea's FFVD."

While U.S. officials have frequently used the term FFVD, it is considered very unusual for this term to be used in materials under President Trump's name.

Amid concerns that North Korea may unveil new weapons or conduct tests such as submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) launches on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party next month on October 10, President Trump's message is interpreted as a warning to North Korea to refrain from provocative actions.

In June of last year, President Moon Jae-in and Chairman Kim Jong-un were talking in front of the Freedom House on the South Korean side of Panmunjom, along with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Moreover, North Korea is asserting the strengthening of its nuclear deterrent rather than denuclearization.

North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un mentioned a "self-defensive nuclear deterrent" on the 67th anniversary of the Korean War armistice and declared his intention to strengthen national defense.

On July 27, the 67th anniversary of the 'Victory Day of the Fatherland Liberation War,' Kim attended and delivered a speech at the 6th National Veterans' Congress held at the 4.25 Culture Hall in Pyongyang, stating, "With our reliable and effective self-defensive nuclear deterrent, there will be no more talk of war on this land, and the safety and future of our country will be firmly guaranteed forever."

He justified nuclear possession by saying, "We had to have absolute power to prevent and deter war itself so that the pain and suffering like the war in the 1950s would not be repeated. We have overcome all pressures and challenges on a difficult path that others would have fallen a hundred times, and we have walked the path of self-development as a nuclear-armed state."

He also revealed his intention to maintain nuclear possession by saying, "Now, we have finally become capable of reliably protecting ourselves against any form of high-intensity pressure and military threat and intimidation from imperialist reactionaries and hostile forces."