Proposal of Agreement On Peace Regime Construction and Denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula
September 2018 Cheong Wook-sik / Director of Peace Network
Writing, Background, and Purpose of Agreement Proposal Ever since 2018 U.S.-DPRK Summit, peace process on the Korean Peninsula has lost its direction. Disagreement between U.S. and DPRK over ’Declaration to end the war’-which has been regarded as an entrance to peace regime on the Korean Peninsula-and ‘Complete Nuclear Declaration’, a first measure of denuclearization, has been continuing for a while. Due to this current situation, U.S.-DPRK relations does not seem to be a ‘game of trust’, but rather a ‘game of mistrust.’ “Maximum Pressure”, is once again raised in U.S. and DPRK expresses a strong mistrust of U.S. returning to its old position of ‘Denuclearization First’ once again. The Peace Process on the Korean Peninsula and denuclearization are closely related to each other. Yet, related parties have approached those two in separate ways. However, its limitation is getting clearer. As U.S.-DPRK high level talks on July 6th and 7th showed, they cannot be both achieved in a separated manner. A declaration of the end of the war and a nuclear declaration issues are good examples. DPRK demands U.S. to show its sincerity, declaring the end of the Korean War as DPRK herself has already implemented introductory measure of the U.S.-DPRK Joint Statement. However, U.S. argues a nuclear declaration inclusive of all nuclear weapons should come first. A declaration of the end of the war and a nuclear declaration are both beginning stages of the peace process and denuclearization. Considering a reality, that even now in its early stage, a coordinated progress is becoming tricky, a main stage-conclusion of peace agreement, responsive denuclearization measures and construction of peace regime and complete denuclearization through implementation of peace agreement will become even more challenging. This is why an approach of novelty, creativeness, and boldness is needed.
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