The Choson Sinbo, “the End-of-War Declaration Soon to Be Adopted”

[imText1]The Chosun Sinbo, the journal of Chongryon (General Association of North Korean Residents in Japan), reported on the 8th that thanks to the inter-Korea Summit, a meeting to discuss the problems of the Korean peninsula will be soon held between National Defense Chairman Kim Jong Il and the U.S. President George W. Bush.

The Chosun Sinbo, which has been representing the North Korean authorities’ position, offers prospect of such a meeting to take place based on the fact that holding a meeting with the leaders of the three or four parties to declare the end of the Korean War was discussed on the Summit level for the first time in history in its feature article, “North-South Relations after the Summit in a New Era of Prosperity and Unification.”

“A declaration to end to the Korean War is not far off because the Summit adopted the second-phase of action for the implementation of the Joint Statement of September 19,” said Chosun Sinbo, “The time is approaching for Kim Jong Il to sit across from the President of the U.S., the country definitely responsible for the division of Korea and for the military tension that has existed on the Korean Peninsula for over half a century.”

The South Korean Government spokesman, Chun Ho Sun said that the government will try to convene the three or four party summit talks on the declaration to end of the Korean War before the end of the year. The preparation for the meeting will proceed regardless of the expiration of President Roh’s tenure. For this reason, there is speculation on the possibility that the Summit talks can be held before South Korea’s next presidential election scheduled for December.

However, the US, the key country concerned with the declaration to end of the war, shows unwillingness to meet the North Korea leader before the denuclearization of the country is realized. Supposedly, the Chosun Sinbo’s article echoes hope for long-term possibilities for the North Korea-US Summit.

That being said, the Shinbo’s article reflects North Korea’s strong intention to normalize its relation with US.

“The future of the Korean Peninsula can vary depending on how the international society responds to the efforts of the two Koreas to implement the Summit declaration,” said Chosun Sinbo. It also said, “The concerned countries including the US should not readily disregard the two Koreas’ aspiration for unification and independent will, which was clearly evident at the inner-Korea Summit.”

As for the change in the US’ policy on North Korea in the wake of the nuclear test last year, the Chosun Shinbo explained that “North Korea’s diplomatic offensive gave a fatal blow to the US, which created a situation where the US cannot openly oppose two Korea’s national cooperation.”

In addition, Chosun Shinbo stated that “the announcement of ’the Summit Declaration’ came at the right time. As long as the two Koreas stand and work together for national interests, they can lead a change in the situation on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia.”