South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun and top leader of Democratic
People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Il signed a joint
declaration in Pyongyang Thursday, said a news release issued in
Seoul.
The Declaration for Advancing Inter-Korean Relations and Peace
and Prosperity was signed at the Paekhawon State Guesthouse at
1:00?PM (0400 GMT), said the news release.
According the eight-point declaration, "historic summit meetings
and several talks" were held during Roh's three-day visit to
Pyongyang.
"During the summit meetings and talks, the two leaders
reaffirmed the spirit of the June 15 Joint Declaration and candidly
discussed agenda concerning advancement of inter-Korean relations,
the realization of peace and common prosperity, and the unification
of the Korean peninsula," said the declaration.
South Korea and the DPRK pledged to "transcend differences in
ideology and institutions, thereby transforming inter-Korean
relations into one of mutual respect and trust," the declaration
said, adding that they will not "interfere in the internal
affairs."
It calls for ending military hostility between the two sides and
a three- or four-party summit on a permanent peace treaty on the
peninsula.
The two sides have agreed to frequently hold summit talks to
discuss pending issues, expand cross-border investments and
economic cooperation projects, make joint efforts to support the
six-party talks and create a special peace zone in the Yellow Sea
west of the Korean Peninsula, said the document.
They have also agreed to hold talks between their prime
ministers in Seoul in November, the declaration said.
The defense ministers of the two sides will hold a meeting next
month to discuss peace in the West Sea, it said.
A direct air route between Seoul and the DPRK's Mount Paektu
will be opened, said the document.
The two sides will work together to formally operate railways
linking South Korea and the DPRK and allow South Korea's cheering
squad to take train to Beijing during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, it said.
They have agreed to construct a joint shipbuilding complex in
Nampo, near Pyongyang, and open a cross-border cargo railway, the
declaration said.
Moreover, South Korea and the DPRK will actively promote
humanitarian cooperative projects and expand the reunion of
separated families and relatives.
On Tuesday, Roh traveled some 200 km overland to Pyongyang for
the inter-Korean summit, the second of its kind since the Korean
Peninsula was divided more than half a century ago. Roh's
predecessor, Kim Dae-jung, traveled to the DPRK for the first
inter-Korean summit in June 2000.
(Xinhua News Agency October 4, 2007)
