7th Anniversary of September 19 Pyongyang Joint Declaration... Jeong Cheongrae Seeks Ways to Institutionalize Inter-Korean Agreements

Jeong: "Preserving the Spirit of Agreements Regardless of Administration"

Jeong Cheongrae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated at the 7th anniversary ceremony of the September 19 Pyongyang Joint Declaration on Inter-Korean Military Agreement, "I am considering whether the National Assembly could ratify, through bipartisan agreement, the 'July 4 Joint Statement' from the Park Chunghee era and President Roh Taewoo's 'Inter-Korean Basic Agreement.'

Former President Moon Jae-in (right in the photo) and Jeong Cheongrae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, are talking at the 7th anniversary ceremony of the September 19 Pyongyang Joint Declaration on Inter-Korean Military Agreement and the opening ceremony of the 2025 Korean Peninsula Peace Week held at Camp Greaves in Paju, Gyeonggi Province on the 19th. Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers Group, Yonhap News Agency

At the ceremony held at Camp Greaves in Paju, Gyeonggi Province on this day, Jeong delivered a commemorative address, saying, "President Moon Jae-in's 'September 19 Pyongyang Joint Declaration' marked a significant step toward a substantive peace declaration through a military agreement. I have always felt deep regret thinking that if only this declaration had been upheld, the peace and fate of the Korean Peninsula could have changed."

Jeong also said, "The spirit embodied in President Kim Daejung's 'June 15 Joint Declaration' and President Roh Moo-hyun's 'October 4 Summit Declaration' is truly remarkable," adding, "It is always regrettable to think about why these long-standing historic agreements between the two Koreas have repeatedly not been implemented, not been honored, and have been destroyed."

He continued, "Given the nature of Korea, where governments change through democracy, it is unfortunate that so many of these declarations have been lost. The Democratic Party is actively seeking concrete ways to institutionalize these agreements so that their spirit can be preserved regardless of which administration is in power."

He further stated, "I do not know if institutionalization alone will be possible. It is also uncertain whether North Korea can institutionalize such agreements," emphasizing, "We must consider how, like West Germany in the past, we can pursue consistent inter-Korean policies regardless of whether conservatives or progressives are in power. I believe the time has come for genuine efforts, and I hope that, when the time is right, our efforts will be communicated to North Korea."

Meanwhile, former President Moon Jae-in also attended the event and said, "I welcome U.S. President Donald Trump's willingness to hold North Korea-U.S. talks and his desire to meet North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong Un within the year, and I hope this will be realized as soon as possible. Chairman Kim's decision can still be the key to peace on the Korean Peninsula at this moment. I look forward to seeing Chairman Kim demonstrate his courageous decision once again."