Deadlock in North Korea-US talks, President Trump’s November election also a variable... Major foreign media focus on US-China COVID-19 blame dispute
[Asia Economy reporters Ryu Jeong-min, Lee Hyun-woo, Kim Dong-pyo] "'The declaration of the end of the war' will be the door that opens the path to a permanent peace regime along with denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula." President Moon Jae-in once again brought up the keyword 'declaration of the end of the war' regarding the peace regime on the Korean Peninsula.
On the 23rd (local time, the 22nd), the most noticeable word in President Moon's keynote video speech at the 75th United Nations (UN) General Assembly held in New York, USA, was the declaration of the end of the war. The declaration of the end of the war is an act that proclaims the end of the Korean War, which has not ended for 70 years. Regardless of legal enforceability, it has the effect of removing the justification for military actions.
The declaration of the end of the war is generally made simultaneously with a peace agreement, but considering the deadlock in North Korea-US denuclearization negotiations, concluding a peace agreement is difficult. President Moon's mention of the declaration of the end of the war at the UN General Assembly is an expression of his will to revive the spark of denuclearization negotiations and restart the peace process on the Korean Peninsula.
In fact, President Moon emphasized, "War on the Korean Peninsula must be completely and permanently ended," and "The beginning is the declaration of the end of the war on the Korean Peninsula, where both sides can confirm their will for peace." President Moon has emphasized the declaration of the end of the war as a catalyst for resolving the Korean Peninsula issue whenever he had the opportunity, including in his 2018 UN General Assembly speech.
What is noteworthy is that the declaration of the end of the war is an issue intertwined with the intentions of North Korea and the United States, as well as the complex dynamics of the international community. The problem is that it is not easy for the international community to find meaning beyond an occasion to renew interest in the situation on the Korean Peninsula and the importance of the declaration of the end of the war.
It means that until the US presidential election scheduled for November, it is highly likely to remain a 'hollow echo.' Given that President Donald Trump has entered an important election campaign tied to his reelection, it is not easy to focus attention on the situation on the Korean Peninsula.
Another variable is that if it is evaluated that North Korea was given a 'gift' during the negotiation process, it could backfire in the presidential election. In this regard, on the 21st (local time), President Trump mentioned at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference that efforts toward North Korea's "final, fully verified denuclearization (FFVD)" must continue. The use of the term FFVD in President Trump's message was considered unusual.
It is also questionable whether North Korea will respond to President Moon's call for the declaration of the end of the war. Currently, North Korea's focus on flood recovery and COVID-19 prevention is a factor blocking visible reactions. Furthermore, unless the denuclearization table is opened, it is difficult for North Korea's attitude to change immediately.
Meanwhile, major foreign media reactions to President Moon's mention of the declaration of the end of the war were minimal. This is because President Trump did not mention North Korea in his UN General Assembly speech for the first time and shifted the focus of attention by emphasizing China's responsibility for COVID-19. On the 22nd (local time), major foreign media treated President Moon's UN General Assembly keynote speech as a brief news item.
Japanese media such as NHK focused intensively on President Trump's remarks. Bloomberg News reported, "President Moon is trying to revive the North Korea-US summit, which has seen no further negotiations since the Hanoi summit in February 2019," but included doubts about the effect of the declaration of the end of the war in the article.
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