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All-out effort for peace

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-06-02 07:44

Millions in the Republic of Korea (ROK) still grieve over the death of their former president Roh Moo-hyun.

The world, too, should mourn his death because, of all the legacy of Roh, the most important is his visit to Pyongyang in October 2007 and signing of the Declaration for Development of North-South Relations and Peace and Prosperity with Kim Jong-il, chairman of the National Defense Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

The declaration raised so much hope as Roh and his northern counterpart pledged to "realize the advancement of North-South relations, peace on the Korean Peninsula, common prosperity of the Korean people and unification of Korea".

And, the ringing words that come to mind are: The two leaders "agreed to oppose any war on the peninsula and faithfully honor the commitment of non-aggression...".

Unfortunately, the declaration is forgotten now as the DPRK has made a series of moves to demonstrate its possible nuclear capability since it carried out the second underground nuclear test a week ago.

The DPRK even declared that it has turned its back on the Korean War Armistice Agreement, which was co-signed, among others, by Kim Il-song, the then Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army.

This agreement recognized that the Korean conflict inflicted "great toil, suffering and bloodshed" and sought to "ensure a complete cessation of hostilities and of all acts of armed force" on the Korean Peninsula. And, it is this agreement that has made it possible for the DPRK and ROK to develop politically, socially, economically and even militarily.

By its brazen display of nuclear prowess, the DPRK is not only turning its back on the promises made but also endangering security and peace in the Korean Peninsula, the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large.

But, when we insist that the Korean Peninsula should become denuclearized and express our strong opposition to the DPRK's actions, other countries that are still hostage to the Cold War mindset should also do some soul-searching.

Why has the engagement policy that Kim Dae-jung and Roh helped to develop and maintain been abandoned today? Why is the mutual respect and trust that prevailed between the North and South during the presidencies of Kim and Roh no longer honored?

Why did the war against Iraq occur, giving many countries the dark hint that only the weak countries, such as Iraq, would fall victim to the world's only superpower ? Why should the NATO, the military alliance of the Cold War, continue to expand?

Some four decades of Cold War have proven that adversarial military alliances and actions will not root out conflicts.

In the words of Ma Xiaotian, deputy chief of the General Staff of the People's Liberation Army, the countries that sacrifice the security of other countries will not secure their own safety.

Denuclearization on the Korean Peninsular, peace in the region and the world, requires cooperation, dialogue, balance, mutual respect and trust, and mutual benefits more than ever before.

(China Daily 06/02/2009 page8)