Lee Do-hoon meets vegan and returns home … Has the ‘Declaration of the End’ progressed?

Lee Do-hoon, head of the Korean Peninsula Peace Negotiations Headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is returning home after completing a three-night, four-day visit to the United States. It is noteworthy if advanced discussions were held with the United States while President Moon Jae-in called for the support of the international community for the declaration of the end of the Korean peninsula in a speech at the UN General Assembly.

Director Lee visited Washington from 27-30, held talks with Veegan, the nuclear director of the Republic of Korea and the United States, and made extensive contact with US administration officials. In July, after the Vegan Minister visited Korea, a two-month meeting led to close discussions between the ROK and top U.S. nuclear representatives, including on the situation of the spread of a new coronavirus infection (Corona 19).

In particular, this visit to the United States took place after the North Korean army fired on a South Korean Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries official who disappeared in the waters off Soyeonpyeong Island. Furthermore, while President Moon raised the need for an end declaration of the Korean peninsula and called for the support of the international community, attention is being drawn to the content of the discussions between Korea and the United States.

Vice Minister Vegan met with reporters shortly after discussions with General Manager Lee and North Korea’s nuclear chief representative, calling the shooting of South Korean officials “shocking,” but said: “We also talked about ways constructive efforts to continue promoting our diplomacy on the Korean Peninsula. ” In particular, Vice Minister Vegan said, “The United States and Korea are fully committed to diplomacy,” he said. “This is to bring lasting peace and denuclearization on the Korean peninsula, a bright future for Koreans, and the normalization of relations between the United States and North Korea.” “I am very grateful for the creative ideas we discussed today,” he said. But the United States and Korea cannot do it alone. North Korea’s participation is necessary and discussions are open when they are ready. ”

The creative ideas and constructive avenues mentioned by Secretary Vegan are not mentioned, but appear to be aimed at ending the war. After arriving in the United States, the head of the headquarters said: “As I am going to talk about all the relevant issues, of course I will talk about the end of the war.”

Earlier, President Moon Jae-in said in a keynote address at the 75th UN General Assembly on the 23rd that “The End of War Declaration will be the gateway to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the path to a permanent peace regime “. We hope that the UN and the international community will also join forces so that we can move forward. “

Although President Moon produced the end-of-the-war card on the Korean Peninsula, the observation prevails that it is unlikely to become a reality inside and outside the political arena. This is because the US negotiations have stalled after the Hanoi negotiations broke down in February last year, and the US is unlikely to declare an end to the war without denuclearization measures. from North Korea. Until now, the United States has been discussing declaring an end to the war as a countermeasure to denuclearization.

Consequently, the head of headquarters is expected to explain the background to the declaration of the end of the war and seek the understanding of the United States. Previously, the Blue House explained that “it was proposed to enter into denuclearization and permanent peace through the Declaration of the End of the War on the Korean Peninsula, which can confirm the commitment of each one to peace.”

Headquarters Director Do-Hoon Lee said: “We discussed various methods on how to manage the given situation and resume dialogue, and how to lead the joint task of denuclearization and the establishment of a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula in the dialogue”. It was good. “He said,” We will continue to discuss with the vegan representative through various means and opportunities. ”

It is also assessed that Vice Minister Vegan has expressed a cautious stance on the end-of-war declaration that there is still no countermeasure against denuclearization, in the sense that Veegan mentioned that “North Korea’s involvement is necessary.” In fact, despite the difference in positions between Korea and the United States, there are observations that advanced discussions have been held to narrow them down as both sides fully understand each other’s positions.

A diplomatic source said: “President Moon raised the need to end the war in the process of promoting the Korean Peninsula process through a speech at the UN General Assembly, and urged the international community to support it. ” He said, “You must fully understand what kind of cooperation and support the Korean government expects.”

“Looking at the End of War Declaration, it is a matter that is not simple legally and politically, so it is a matter that requires a fairly technical approach.” “If Korea and the United States are not sure that the perception gap has been greatly reduced or that it can be reduced, Lee General Manager It would have been unusual for the vice minister and Veegan to be in front of the media.”

Meanwhile, the Republic of Korea and the US are coordinating plans for US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to visit Korea immediately after the Chuseok holiday. Some people are raising the possibility of an “Oktober surprise,” such as contact with the United States before the US presidential election, but there are observations that it is unreasonable to expect a prospective message to North Korea, as the secretary’s visit Pompeo to Korea focuses on regional situations such as the conflict between the United States and China.