Kim Jong Il, Chairman of the National Defence Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and Roh Moo Hyun, president of the Republic of Korea, held the second historic summit meeting and talks in Pyongyang from October 2 to 4, Juche 96 (2007).
The meetings and talks reconfirmed the spirit of the June 15 Joint Declaration, frankly discussed all issues related to improving inter-Korean relations and achieving peace on the Korean peninsula, common prosperity and reunification of the nation and expressed the belief that the nation can open up an era of national prosperity, a new era of independent reunification when it pools its will and strength.
The top leaders adopted the Declaration for the Development of North-South Relations, and Peace and Prosperity on October 4 as follows:
1. The north and the south shall uphold and positively implement the June 15 Joint Declaration.
They agreed to independently settle the reunification issue in the spirit of By Our Nation Itself, attach importance to the dignity and interests of the nation and orientate everything to this objective.
They agreed to take steps to commemorate June 15 in reflection of their intentions to invariably implement the joint declaration.
2. The north and the south agreed to convert north-south relations definitely into those of mutual respect and confidence, transcending the difference in ideology and system.
They agreed not to interfere in the internal affairs of the other side but to solve the problems related to north-south relations in the interests of reconciliation, cooperation and reunification.
They agreed to adjust their legal and institutional mechanisms with a view to developing inter-Korean relations to meet the purpose of reunification.
They agreed to positively promote dialogue and contacts in all fields, including parliaments of both sides to settle the issues related to improving inter-Korean relations in keeping with the desire of the nation.
3. The north and the south agreed to closely cooperate with each other in the efforts to put an end to hostile military relations and ensure détente and peace on the Korean peninsula.
They agreed to refrain from hostility against each other but to ease the military tension and settle disputes through dialogue and negotiations.
They agreed to oppose any war on the peninsula and firmly adhere to the commitments to non-aggression.
They agreed to hold talks between the minister of the People’s Armed Forces of the north side and the minister of National Defence of the south side in Pyongyang within November this year with a view to discussing measures for building military confidence, including the proposal for defining joint fishing grounds and turning them into peaceful waters in order to prevent accidental clashes in the West Sea and the issue of providing military guarantee for all forms of cooperation projects.
4. The north and the south, based on the common understanding of the need to put an end to the existing armistice mechanism and build a lasting peace mechanism, agreed to cooperate with each other in the efforts to push forward with the issue of arranging a meeting on the territory of the Korean peninsula of the heads of state of three or four parties directly concerned to promote the matter of declaring an end to war.
They agreed to make joint efforts to ensure the smooth implementation of the September 19 joint statement and February 13 agreement published at the six-party talks for the settlement of the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula.
5. The north and the south agreed to reactivate economic cooperation and bring about its sustained development on the principles of ensuring common interests and prosperity and meeting each other’s needs with a view to balanced development of the national economy and common prosperity.
They agreed to encourage investment for economic cooperation and push forward the building of economic infrastructures and the development of resources and grant all types of preferential treatment and privileges to suit the peculiarities of cooperation undertakings within the nation.
They agreed to establish a “special zone for peace and cooperation on the West Sea” covering the Haeju area and adjacent waters and push ahead with such undertakings as to define joint fishing grounds and peaceful waters, build a special economic zone, actively use Haeju Port, allow civilian vessels to take the direct route to Haeju Port and jointly use the estuary of the Rimjin River.
They agreed to complete the first-phase project of the Kaesong Industrial Park at an early date, start its second-phase development, begin the railway freight transport between Munsan and Pongdong and rapidly take all measures for institutional guarantees, including the issues of passage, communications and customs clearance.
They agreed to discuss and push ahead with the issue of improving and repairing of the railways between Kaesong and Sinuiju and the motorway between Kaesong and Pyongyang in order to jointly use them.
They agreed to build zones for cooperation in shipbuilding in Anbyon and Nampho and undertake cooperation projects in different fields, including agriculture, health care and environmental protection.
They agreed to upgrade the existing “North-South Committee for the Promotion of Economic Cooperation” to vice-premier level “North-South Joint Committee for Economic Cooperation” for the smooth promotion of inter-Korean economic cooperation.
6. The north and the south agreed to develop exchanges and cooperation in social and cultural fields such as history, language, education, science and technology, culture and the arts, and sports to add brilliance to the time-honoured history and fine culture of the nation.
They agreed to start the tour of Mt Paektu and, to this end, open the Mt Paektu-Seoul direct air route.
They agreed to arrange for the cheering groups of the north and the south to the 2008 Beijing Olympics to use the train to run on the west coastal line for the first time.
7. The north and the south agreed to push forward humanitarian cooperation.
They agreed to expand the meetings of separated families and relatives and promote the exchanges of video correspondence.
To this end, they agreed to permanently post representatives of both sides at the reunion centre at Mt Kumgang resort when it is completed with a view to putting the meetings of separated families and relatives on a regular basis.
They agreed to positively cooperate with each other in case of calamities, including natural disaster on the principle of compatriotism, humanitarianism and mutual support and assistance.
8. The north and the south agreed to strengthen cooperation on the international arena in the efforts to protect the interests of the nation and the rights and interests of overseas Koreans.
They agreed to hold talks between the premier of the north and the prime minister of the south for the implementation of this declaration and decided to hold their first meeting in Seoul within November this year.
They reached an agreement on ensuring that the top leaders of both sides meet often to discuss pending issues for the development of inter-Korean relations.
