eFM News

President Moon Jae-in has restated a call for a declaration to end the Korean War, saying it would pave the for complete denuclearization and lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula.

He requested the international community's support as he took part in the annual United Nations General Assembly session in New York via a pre-recorded video message that was live-streamed early Wednesday, Korea time.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the war, which ended in 1953 in an armistice.

Moon's offer apparently aims to revitalize the Korea peace process, which has lost steam since U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un failed to produce a deal during their summit in Hanoi early last year.

Inter-Korean relations have also been deadlocked despite a series of meetings between Moon and Kim in 2018.

Moon said a permanent peace regime would also guarantee peace in Northeast Asia and bring positive changes to the world order, stressing Korea as the region in most urgent need of the spirit of the U.N. to realize world peace.

The president also expressed hope for a possible breakthrough through a coordinated response to COVID-19.

"Inter-Korean cooperation in disease prevention and control and public health will also trigger dialogue and cooperation in the process of building a peaceful Korean Peninsula," he said.

Moon proposed launching a Northeast Asia Cooperation Initiative for Infectious Disease Control and Public Health, including North Korea as a participant along with China, Japan, Mongolia and South Korea.

He explained, "A cooperative architecture that guarantees collective protection of life and safety will lay the groundwork for North Korea to have its security guaranteed by engaging with the international community."

At the end of his speech, Moon reiterated the end-of-war declaration offer, but gave no details about whether a related U.N. resolution is necessary and if China would be involved.

Moon's security aides, however, have said such a move would be highly meaningful as a potential catalyst for inter-Korean peace and denuclearization.