North Korean media emphasizes significance of end-of-war declaration
North Korean media on July 23 increased calls for South Korea to implement the agreement reached at the inter-Korean summit to work toward declaring an end to the Korean War, calling it a “historic task” that cannot be delayed any longer.
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| South Korean (left) and North Korean (right) delegations at talks at the truce village of Panmunjom on June 1. Photo: Yonhap |
According to a VNA correspondent in South Korea, Uriminzokkiri, North Korea's English-language foreign propaganda website, published an article saying: "Since the South Korean government also has the obligation to carry out what was agreed upon in the Panmunjom Declaration, South Korea should not remain idle... This is a historic task that cannot be delayed any longer to build a solid peace by ending the current abnormal state of armistice on the Korean Peninsula."
Meanwhile, Meari, another North Korean propaganda website, also urged the Seoul government to "do its part" in moving toward declaring an end to the Korean War. The website said the agreement reached at the inter-Korean summit in April would lose its meaning if the South Korean government did not act.
Previously, during the summit on April 27, South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un agreed to officially end the war this year, replacing the armistice with a permanent peace treaty on the Korean Peninsula. This is especially meaningful as this year marks the 65th anniversary of the Armistice Agreement. South Korea and North Korea agreed to actively hold trilateral meetings - with the participation of Seoul, Pyongyang and the United States, or quadrilateral meetings with the two Koreas, the United States and China - with the aim of ending the war and establishing a lasting and sustainable peace regime.
In inter-Korean relations, the two leaders also agreed to make efforts to promptly resolve humanitarian issues arising from the division of the country, and to hold an inter-Korean Red Cross Conference to discuss and resolve various issues, including the reunion of separated families. Accordingly, South Korea and North Korea agreed to promote reunion programs for separated families on the occasion of the National Liberation Day on August 15 this year.
