Democrats: "Yoon Government Must Develop Moon Government's Peace Policy... Establish Foundation for Four-Party Peace Talks"

6.15 Inter-Korean Joint Declaration 23rd Anniversary
"6.15 Shows the Way Forward"

Park Kwang-on, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated on the occasion of the 23rd anniversary of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration that the Yoon Suk-yeol administration should inherit the Moon Jae-in administration's peace policy. He said that through this, a foundation should be established to revive the four-party peace talks involving North and South Korea, the United States, and China.

At the party policy coordination meeting on the 15th, Floor Leader Park said, "Today marks the 23rd anniversary of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration," adding, "As it is a historic day that opened the door to peace on the Korean Peninsula, rather than criticizing the government and ruling party's Korea policy, I urge the Yoon Suk-yeol administration to seek a peace solution for the Korean Peninsula based on the June 15 declaration."

He stated, "In the current situation where the North's nuclear advancement and missile provocations are driving the Korean Peninsula toward conflict and confrontation, and the strategic competition between the U.S. and China is intensifying, we must recall the bold wisdom of former President Kim Dae-jung, who made the inter-Korean summit 23 years ago possible," and added, "June 15 still shows the path that the Republic of Korea must follow."

He then mentioned the principle of resolving issues by the parties themselves, saying, "'We are the owners of the Korean Peninsula.' The June 15 North-South Joint Declaration stated that the North and South would independently handle the issue of national unification as the owners of the country, our people," and explained, "Such reconciliation and cooperation policies of the Kim Dae-jung administration were continued by the Roh Moo-hyun administration's peace and prosperity policies and further carried on by the Moon Jae-in administration's Korean Peninsula peace process."

Park Kwang-on, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the policy coordination meeting held at the National Assembly on the 15th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

He also said, "The periods over the past 30 years when South Korea's economy developed, inter-Korean relations advanced, and international status rose almost coincide with the times when Democratic Party governments pursued peace policies," adding, "We must take the lead in the Korean Peninsula market, which is the world's best investment destination."

Floor Leader Park emphasized, "We must not give up on dialogue until the very end," and urged, "We need to establish a foundation of bipartisan cooperation and public support so that when the opportunity arises, dialogue can be resumed."

He asserted, "The ROK-U.S. alliance under the Moon Jae-in government and the Yoon Suk-yeol government is not different," and argued, "Just as the Democratic Party government developed the peace policy of the Roh Tae-woo administration, this government also needs to inherit and develop the experience of the Moon Jae-in administration."

He advised, "The Yoon administration should revive the spirit of June 15 and create a foundation to bring back the four-party peace talks among North and South Korea, the U.S., and North Korea, which have already been agreed upon, and which China has also consented to."