The Koreas’ Agreement

Unofficial translation of the agreement signed by the leaders of North Korea and South Korea in Pyongyang, North Korea:

In accordance with the noble will of the entire people yearning for the peaceful reunification of the nation, President Kim Dae Jung of the Republic of [South] Korea and National Defense Commission Chairman Kim Jong Il of the Democratic People’s Republic of [North] Korea held a historic meeting and summit talks in Pyongyang from June 13 to June 15, 2000.

The leaders of the South and the North, evaluating that the meeting and the summit talks were of important significance in promoting mutual understanding, developing South-North relations and realizing peaceful reunification, declared as follows:

1. The South and the North have agreed to resolve the question of reunification independently and through the joint efforts of the Korean people.

2. For the achievement of reunification, we have agreed that there is a common element in the South’s proposal for a confederation and the North’s proposal for a loose form of federation. The South and the North agreed to promote reunification through these frameworks.

3. The South and the North have agreed to promptly resolve humanitarian issues such as exchange visits by separated family members and relatives on the occasion of the Aug. 15 National Liberation Day and the question of unswerving Communists serving prison sentences in the South.

4. The South and the North have agreed to consolidate mutual trust by promoting balanced development of the national economy through economic cooperation and stimulating cooperation and exchanges in all fields, including the social, cultural, sports, health and environmental.

5. The South and the North have agreed to hold dialogues between relevant authorities in the near future to implement the above agreements expeditiously.

President Kim Dae Jung cordially invited National Defense Commission Chairman Kim Jong Il to visit Seoul, and Chairman Kim Jong Il will visit Seoul at an appropriate time.

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Source: Times Staff Reports