Text Fwd: North Korea Proposes Talks Over Peace Treaty

* Original Korean statement by the North Korea can be seen here. Part of the statement says, “Any consensus without the essential and fundamental issue of war and peace, can not avoid the fate of the frustration and failure as it could not have done by now.” The statement is quite consistent with the North Korea’s New Year’s Day joint editorial as seen here. The noticeable point in the editorial was it, , emphasized ‘on the economy and specifically on “improving the life of the people,”’ rather than ‘Songun, North Korea’s “Military First” policy, and defense industries’ in contrast to the past. But it is more exact to say that the North Korea has claimed the Peace Treaty long time ago.


Korea Times
North Korea Proposes Talks Over Peace Treaty
Jan. 11, 2010
By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter

North Korea proposed talks on a peace treaty Monday, saying the issue could be discussed at a meeting of armistice signatories or in the six-party talks.

In a statement, a spokesman of the North's Foreign Ministry indicated that it could rejoin the six-party denuclearization talks to discuss the issue.

South and North Korea still remain technically at war since the 1950-53 Korean War ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty.

The secretive state has boycotted the multilateral forum since the international community imposed financial sanctions over its nuclear test on May 25 last year.

"We politely suggest that countries related to the truce accord have talks to switch the current armistice agreement into a peace treaty this year, which marks the 60th anniversary of the (outbreak) of the Korean War," said the statement carried by the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

China, which fought on the North Korean side, also signed the truce agreement.

North Korea signed the cease-fire agreement with South Korea, the United States and other countries that participated in the Korean War (1950-53). The statement, however, did not clarify which countries it wants to have talks with.

Pyongyang claimed that the nuclear issue wouldn't have happened if a peaceful regime had been established on the Korean Peninsula.

It also said the proposed talks can take place within the context of the stalled six-way talks.

"In terms of its nature and meaning, the peace treaty issue can be discussed within the framework of the six-party talks like the ongoing Washington-Pyongyang talks," the statement said, referring to the bilateral meeting between U.S. Special Envoy Stephen Bosworth and North Korean officials late last year.

The communist state noted that the suspended six-way forum could be resumed soon if the international sanctions imposed by the U.N. Security Council last year are lifted.

"The conclusion of the peace treaty will help terminate the hostile relations between the DPRK and the U.S., and positively promote the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula rapidly," the statement said.

"Removing the sanctions, which serve as a barrier of discrimination and distrust, may soon help lead to holding the six-party talks" that include the U.S., the two Koreas, China, Japan and Russia.

ksy@koreatimes.co.kr


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2010/01/11 17:18 KST
(2nd LD) N. Korea calls for early talks on peace treaty