Moon attends 5th anniversary event of 9·19 Pyongyang Joint Declaration
Meeting with Lee Jae-myung, Democratic Party leader draws attention
Former President Moon Jae-in will attend the '5th Anniversary Commemoration of the September 19 Pyongyang Joint Declaration' event held on the 19th. This is the first time since his retirement in May last year that former President Moon, who had been staying in Yangsan, Gyeongnam, will carry out an official schedule in Seoul.
The organizing committee for the 5th Anniversary Commemoration of the September 19 Pyongyang Joint Declaration announced on the 18th that "Former President Moon will deliver a greeting at the commemorative event." Although the content of Moon’s greeting has not been disclosed, it is expected that he will speak about peace on the Korean Peninsula.
Previously, former President Moon expressed his thoughts on peace on the Korean Peninsula multiple times through social networking services (SNS). In particular, on July 3, he introduced former Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-geon’s book, The Power of Peace, stating, "As a divided country that has experienced war, there is no nation more desperate for peace than us," and added, "Peace must be accompanied by defense and diplomacy. Without efforts to resolve hostility between the South and North through dialogue and diplomatic efforts to favorably influence the geopolitical environment, it is difficult to achieve stable peace that is not easily shaken."
Evaluating the Northern Policy during the Roh Tae-woo administration as "the most revolutionary turning point and decision in our diplomatic history," former President Moon said, "The Kim Dae-jung, Roh Moo-hyun, and Moon Jae-in administrations inherited and developed that policy," adding, "During those times, inter-Korean relations improved and were relatively peaceful, balanced diplomacy was enhanced, and national income increased significantly, leading to the era of $20,000 and $30,000 national income." He continued, "In administrations that failed to do so, the opposite occurred," explaining, "Inter-Korean relations regressed, peace became precarious, and even national income stagnated or declined."
Former President Moon Jae-in is giving a greeting at an event inviting poet Lee Dong-sun, who published the biography "General of the Nation Hong Beom-do," held on the evening of the 17th at Pyeongsan Bookstore. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Although Moon’s writing at the time appeared to introduce former Vice Minister Choi’s book in form, it was interpreted as an indirect criticism of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration’s North Korea policy.
At the 4th anniversary event, former President Moon urged through a written congratulatory message, "Without dialogue, there is no peace. The starting point of all dialogue is trust. Trust begins with keeping promises agreed upon between the South and North. Even if the government changes, these promises must be duly respected and implemented. North Korea must also not betray repeated agreements."
Attention is focused on whether he will express his stance on the current government’s criticism of previous administrations, including controversies over statistical manipulation, at this commemorative ceremony. Additionally, there is interest in whether former President Moon will meet with Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who was hospitalized after fasting for 19 days, following his greeting. Lee, on his 19th day of fasting, was transported to a hospital due to deteriorating health and is currently receiving recovery treatment at Green Hospital.
Meanwhile, the event scheduled to be held at the 63 Building (Grand Ballroom) is jointly hosted by the Kim Dae-jung Foundation, Roh Moo-hyun Foundation, the organizing committee for the 5th Anniversary Commemoration of the September 19 Pyongyang Joint Declaration, Gyeonggi Province, metropolitan cities, Jeollanam-do, Jeollabuk-do, and Jeju Province. The forum will feature presentations and discussions by former Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, Kim Yeon-chul, chairman of the Korean Peninsula Peace Forum, Moon Jung-in, chairman of the Hankyoreh Unification Culture Foundation, Kim Do-kyun, former chief representative of the inter-Korean military talks, and lawmaker Yoon Gun-young.
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