Inter-Korean Policies
Three Goals
- The peaceful resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue is a goal and task of highest priority that is essential for peace on the Korean Peninsula. We will closely cooperate with the international community to resolve North Korea's nuclear threat and to establish lasting peace on the Peninsula. We aim to substitute the past sixty years of an unstable armistice with a permanent peace regime.
From the start, my Administration has dealt with issues involving the Korean Peninsula according to firm and consistent principles. We shall continue to do so going forward. Our top priority is to maintain peace on the Korean Peninsula. The second order of business is to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula. Third is our primary role in resolving the inter-Korean issue. Fourth is the peaceful resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue. Fifth is a stern response to any North Korean provocation.
November 1, 2017
Address by President Moon Jae-in at the National Assembly
- Existing inter-Korean agreements, including the July 4th South-North Joint Communique, Inter-Korean Basic Agreement, June 15th South-North Joint Declaration, and October 4th Declaration, must be honored and complied with as they are the fruits of painstaking efforts made by former administrations for the improvement of inter-Korean relations. Furthermore, we will resolve disagreements within our society regarding unification and the government’s North Korea policy and create a national consensus.
The inter-Korean agreements achieved by former governments are important assets that must be honored regardless of the change in administration. The South Korean government will regard all inter-Korean agreements passed down by former administrations as principles to be revisited by the two Koreas. We will seek solutions and breakthroughs to pending issues on the Korean Peninsula from these past agreements.
June 15, 2017
June 15th Inter-Korean Summit Congratulatory Speech for the Commemoration of the 17th Anniversary
- We will build a single market on the Korean Peninsula to create new growth engines and create an inter-Korean economic community of coexistence and co-prosperity. We will reach out to the Eurasian Continent and the world, and draw a ‘New Economic Map’ on the Korean Peninsula by establishing three economic belts. We will build a new economic order that will bring peace and prosperity to the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia by conducting joint projects across different sectors involving not only the North but also China, Russia, and other Northeast Asian countries.
On many occasions, I have announced a new economic map for the Korean Peninsula and a new vision for the northern economy. I believe that genuine peace and prosperity in Northeast Asia will begin when the foundation for a Northeast Asian economic community is solidified on one side and multilateral security cooperation is materialized on the other.
September 22, 2017
Address by President Moon Jae-in at the 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly
Four Strategies
Taking a Step-by-Step and Comprehensive Approach
- We will peacefully resolve the North Korean nuclear issue, using a step-by-step, two-track approach of sanctions/pressure and dialogue.
- When conditions are set, we will closely cooperate with related nations and push forward the complete dismantlement of North Korea’s nuclear program step by step, starting from a nuclear freeze.
- While solving the nuclear issue, we will discuss ways to build political and military trust between the two Koreas, establish a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula, and facilitate improvement in relations between the North and the international community, thus eliminating the security threats more fundamentally.
A more fundamental solution is to uproot the North Korean nuclear issue. The North Korean nuclear issue has become much more difficult to deal with than the past with the advancement of North Korea’s nuclear arsenal. A step-by-step and comprehensive approach is required. My Government, in cooperation with the international community, will work towards a comprehensive solution of the current issues on the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia, including the complete dismantlement of North Korea’s nuclear program and establishing a peace regime, easing North Korea’s security and economic concerns, and improving North Korea-US and North Korea-Japan relations.
President Moon Jae-in’s Speech Delivered at Berlin’s Old City Hall upon the invitation of the Körber Foundation, July 6, 2017
Tackling the Issues of Inter-Korean Relations and the North Korean Nuclear Threat Simultaneously
- Resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue and improvement of inter-Korean relations are not two separate matters that require a choice or prioritization. Both can see progress simultaneously by complementing each other in a virtuous circle.
- We can proactively draw the cooperation of surrounding nations including the US and China in multilateral talks only when trust is built between the two Koreas through dialogue and exchange.
We have to remember the fact that the North maintained a moratorium on the test firing of missiles and announced a plan to suspend a nuclear test when the two Koreas maintained good relations. At that time, dialogue between the North and the United States as well as between the North and Japan were promoted, and multilateral diplomacy in Northeast Asia was active. This is the reason why I made clear at every chance that the Republic of Korea must be the country that takes the helm in addressing matters concerning the Korean Peninsula.
Address by President Moon Jae-in on the 72nd Anniversary of Liberation, August 15, 2017
Ensuring Sustainability through Institutionalization
- We will push ahead with a ‘National Unification Agreement’ based on a national consensus and continue to set conditions for the sustainable, consistent implementation of North Korea policy.
- We will uphold all inter-Korean agreements and conclude a ‘New Inter-Korean Basic Agreement’ to ensure the fulfillment of inter-Korean commitments regardless of the change in administration.
- We will conclude a Korean Peninsula peace treaty that brings together all nations directly concerned, convert the currently hostile inter-Korean relations into relations of peace and cooperation, and build an enduring peace.
Domestically, my Government will work towards enacting into law the inter-Korean agreements. We will make it clear that all agreements between the South and the North are basic assets of the Korean Peninsula that should be inherited even when there is a change of government.
President Moon Jae-in’s Speech Delivered at Berlin’s Old City Hall upon the invitation of the Körber Foundation, July 6, 2017
Laying the Foundation for Peaceful Unification through Mutually Beneficial Cooperation
- We will build an inter-Korean community by expanding exchanges that are beneficial to both South and North Koreans across diverse sectors, including the economic sector.
- We will place the highest priority on easing the pain of separated families and resolving this issue ahead of other political matters.
- We will promote and expand exchanges across diverse levels, including those between civic organizations and between local government bodies, to restore inter-Korean relations and national homogeneity.
- We aim for unification achieved in a peaceful and democratic manner agreed to by all members of the two Koreas.
The government will consistently pursue nonpolitical exchange and cooperation projects by separating it from the political and military situation. The exchange and cooperation projects between South and North Korea are the process of healing the wounds and realizing reconciliation among all members on the Korean Peninsula and also efforts towards building peace from within.
President Moon Jae-in’s Speech Delivered at Berlin’s Old City Hall upon the invitation of the Körber Foundation, July 6, 2017
Five Principles
- As the party directly concerned, we will take the lead in promoting inter-Korean reconciliation and cooperation, as well as in establishing peace and co-prosperity on the Korean Peninsula.
- We will strive to establish a new order of peace and prosperity with the international community with an open-minded manner.
The division of the nation is the unfortunate legacy of the colonial era that made it impossible for us to determine our destiny on our own in the midst of cold war rivalries. However, our national power has now been enhanced to the extent that we can decide our fate on our own volition. We, with our own strength, have to achieve peace on the Korean Peninsula and overcome the division.
August 15, 2017
Address by President Moon Jae-in on the 72nd Anniversary of Liberation
- By maintaining a strong security posture based on the solid ROK-US alliance and national defense, we will deter North Korea's provocation and establish peace on the Korean Peninsula.
- We will go beyond the current practice of safeguarding peace to focus our resources on perfecting peace by resolving the North Korean nuclear issue in a peaceful manner and bringing permanent peace to the Peninsula.
Our common goals are clear. The goals are to establish peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula. Of course, a peaceful security environment would also be required to back up those goals. This is the military's responsibility, as well as mine, which cannot be ignored.
March 6, 2018
Korea Military Academy Commencement Speech by President Moon Jae-in
- We will inherit and further foster existing agreements between the two Koreas based on mutual respect, promote mutually beneficial exchanges and cooperation, and thereby realize a Korean community of co-prosperity.
We will embrace the differences between the two Koreas and will not seek the collapse of North Korea, nor unification through absorption or forceful means. If North Korea makes the proper decision for history, we are ready to support it, alongside the international community.
September 22, 2017
Address by President Moon Jae-in at the 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly
- The policy will be completed through close interaction with the people and their opinions, and not by the government's one-sided drive.
- We will institutionalize participation of – and interaction with – the National Assembly, local government bodies, civil organizations, and experts to draw a national consensus on the unification issues.
The inter-Korean agreements achieved by former governments are important assets that must be honored regardless of the change in administration. The South Korean government will regard all inter-Korean agreements passed down by former administrations as principles to be revisited by the two Koreas. We will seek solutions and breakthroughs to pending issues on the Korean Peninsula from these past agreements.
June 15, 2017
June 15th Inter-Korean Summit Congratulatory Speech for the Commemoration of the 17th Anniversary
- We will closely cooperate with the international community to resolve North Korea's nuclear threat and to establish lasting peace on the Peninsula.
- Furthermore, we will pursue prosperity together with our neighbors through the ‘New Economic Map Initiative‘ and win international support for a peaceful unification.
Inter-Korean policies should now be formulated through public participation. The government and experts should focus on expanding the area of public participation, and on building public trust when it comes to inter-Korean policies.
August 23, 2017
Key Policies of Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Ministry of Unification Speeches and Discussion
