9·19 Pyongyang Joint Declaration 6th Anniversary Keynote Speech
"Prosperity of the Republic of Korea Cannot Continue Without Peace"
"North Korea's Denuclearization Should Not Be Left to the U.S. Alone, Must Take the Lead"
Former President Moon Jae-in emphasized on the 20th that "there is no other way but dialogue for peace on the Korean Peninsula."
In his keynote speech on the 6th anniversary of the September 19 Pyongyang Joint Declaration, former President Moon stressed the necessity of inter-Korean dialogue. He said, "The current situation on the Korean Peninsula is the most dangerous since the Korean War," and emphasized, "Regardless of whether the other side is favorable or not, efforts for dialogue to resolve the security crisis are urgently needed."
He stated, "If we talk about dialogue while mentioning the collapse of North Korea's regime and absorption unification, dialogue will never happen," adding, "It only hardens the other side and worsens relations." This was a criticism of President Yoon Seok-yeol's unification doctrine, which emphasized the "expansion of freedom." Former President Moon urged the current administration, saying, "Before the situation worsens, I call on the current government to engage in dialogue with sincerity."
Regarding North Korea, he said, "Clinging to nuclear weapons again, shouting confrontation, and regressing to the past is reckless and dangerous," and added, "They must return to the dialogue table as soon as possible."
He said, "Peace does not guarantee everything, but without peace, the prosperity of the Republic of Korea is not sustainable," and added, "It would be the same for North Korea. Only dialogue can create peace."
Regarding changes in the international situation ahead of the U.S. presidential election, former President Moon explained, "After the U.S. presidential election, when a new administration takes office, there is a possibility that North Korea-U.S. dialogue will be resumed," and said, "Because from the U.S. perspective, they must resolve the growing threat of North Korea's nuclear weapons and missiles." He continued, "At that time, we must not be sidelined or 'passed over' as in the past," and diagnosed, "What is concerning now is that such a possibility is not unlikely. If we continue to ignore dialogue and insist only on confrontation, when North Korea-U.S. dialogue is resumed someday, we will make the mistake of looking up at the roof."
He also emphasized that South Korea must take the lead in North Korea's denuclearization. Former President Moon said, "Denuclearization should not be left solely as a North Korea-U.S. issue; we must be more actively involved." He advised, "Inter-Korean relations and North Korea-U.S. relations should progress in a virtuous cycle, but we must be the ones to lead that virtuous cycle," and added, "If North Korea-U.S. relations fall into a deadlock, it is also necessary to accelerate the development of inter-Korean relations to lead the progress of North Korea-U.S. relations."
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