Noh Kyu-duk: "The Declaration of the End of the War Symbolically Shows No Hostile Policy Toward North Korea"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Roh Kyu-duk, Head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Office for Peace Negotiations on the Korean Peninsula, stated on the 25th, "The declaration of the end of the war is the most symbolic measure showing the absence of hostile policies toward North Korea," expressing expectations that the declaration could serve as an important momentum for resuming dialogue with the North.

At the keynote speech of the NK Forum held by the National Security Strategy Institute at the Four Seasons Hotel in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, Roh said, "Since Hanoi, the North has emphasized the withdrawal of hostile policies toward North Korea as a precondition for resuming talks."

Roh pointed out, "Although the Afghanistan war is known as the longest war for the U.S., in fact, the longest war is the Korean War," adding, "The declaration of the end of the war holds great significance as a trust-building measure toward North Korea."

Roh noted that the North responded promptly to the proposal for the declaration of the end of the war, stating, "While North Korea continuously raises the need to resolve 'preconditions' related to dialogue, it is assessed that they are keeping the possibility of dialogue in mind."