150709 영문 09 inter relation general introduction

Inter-Korea Relations 남북관계

9

Historical Background Simultaneous Admission of the two Koreas to the UN Inter-Korean Exchanges and Cooperation Efforts for Lasting Peace

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the division of Korea into two separate countries.

Inter-Korea Relations

fronts, igniting a three-year internecine war. Since the signing of

남북관계

the armistice agreement on the 27th July 1953, the Peninsula has

On June 25, 1950, North Korea attacked the South on all

remained divided.

Simultaneous Admission of the two Koreas to the UN Although conflicts and confrontations have raged between the two

Even before the Inter-Korean Summits held in 2000 and 2007,

Koreas across the DMZ for over sixty-five years, an atmosphere of

an atmosphere of reconciliation emerged as a result of the South

dialogue and exchange and cooperation was fostered temporarily

Korean government’s northern diplomacy. As a result, the two

between the two countries following the Summits held in 2000

Koreas agreed to join the UN simultaneously at the 46th UN

and 2007. However, there is tension along the DMZ at present due

General Assembly in September 1991.

to the North’s continuing threats and provocations.

Their simultaneous admittance to the UN had historic significance, as it brought to an end the legitimacy controversy

Historical Background

between the two countries and ushered in an era of reconciliation

With Japan’s surrender in the Pacific War in August 1945 four

and coexistence.

decades of Japanese colonial rule ended and U.S. and Soviet

June 25, 1950

Outbreak of the Korean War

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troops came to be stationed on the Korean Peninsula to both the

Inter-Korean Exchanges and Cooperation

south and north of the 38th parallel respectively. This resulted in

Between September 1990 and October 1992, the two Koreas

July 27, 1953

The signing of the Armistice Agreement

July 4, 1972

Announcement of South-North Joint Statement on July 4, 1972

November 30, 1972

The first meeting of the South-North Coordinating Committee

September 20-23, 1985

The first reunion of dispersed family members

November 18, 1998

Commencement of South Koreans’ visit to Geumgangsan Mountain

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engaged in a total of eight bilateral meetings, including the first

and cooperation between the two sides. However, the South

High-Level Talks held in Seoul. In December 1991, the two sides

temporarily suspended the supply of food and fertilizers after the

signed the Agreement on Reconciliation, Nonaggression, and

North’s continuing series of provocative actions culminated in the

Exchanges and Cooperation between the South and the North

launch of long-range missiles and nuclear tests, but did not stop

(also called the Inter-Korean Basic Agreement). The agreement

providing humanitarian support for children or emergency relief aid.

was focused on mutual respect between the two nations, the renunciation of armed aggression, exchange and cooperation

Reunion of Dispersed Family Members

in many sectors, and the guarantee of free exchange of people

There are about ten million dispersed family members in the

between the two countries.

two Koreas.

From the mid-1990s onward, the South’s government

The first Inter-Korean Red Cross meeting was held in August

continued to provide support to the North, which was continuing

1971 to discuss the possibility of reuniting dispersed family

to experience serious economic difficulties.

members, but little progress was made due to differences of

In the period 1999-2007, the South supplied a total of 2.55

opinion. The two sides resumed the meeting in the 1980s, and,

million tons of fertilizers to the North in an effort to help the

finally, reciprocal visits materialized. A group of thirty people

North Korean people who were suffering from a food shortage

from the North paid a visit to the South while a group of thirty-

caused by the inefficiency of the North’s farming system and a

five people from the South paid a visit to the North for four days

lack of fertilizers and chemicals.

from September 20, 1985. It was a truly significant event after 40

The Inter-Korean Summits held in 2000 and 2007 provided the momentum for a dramatic invigoration of dialogue, exchange,

June 13-15, 2000

The first inter-Korean Summit

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September 15, 2000

Athletes of the two Koreas at the opening ceremony of the 2000 Sydney Olympics

June 30, 2003

Commencement of the work on the Gaeseong Industrial Complex

years of division. The two sides also allowed exchanges between groups of artists during the event.

September 19, 2005

The joint statement on non-nuclearization of the Korean Peninsula announced at the 4th Six-Party Talks

September 19, 2005

The second inter-Korean Summit

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The family reunion became a routine event following the Summit held in 2000, and was subsequently held on eighteen occasions

Production volume and workers of Gaeseong Industrial Complex

between August 2000 and October 2010. The North provided a

46,997

46,950 40,185

special venue at Geumgangsan Mountain for these reunions. In

32,332 25,142

addition, video reunions were carried out on seven different occasions

22,378

25,648

18,478

between August of 2005 and November of 2007.

53,448

7,373

53,947 52,329

49,866 46,284 42,561

Gaeseong Industrial Complex

38,931

The Gaeseong Industrial Complex Project carried out by the

1,491

North allows private businesses from the South to build factories

11,160

on leased land in Gaeseong (lease period: 50 years) and produce

6,013

goods. Gaeseong is the third largest city in the North after

2005

Pyeongyang and Nampo. The city offers clear advantages to businesses from the South due to its close geographical proximity

22,538

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

Number of North Korean workers

2011

2012

2013

2014

(Source: Ministry of Unification)

Production volume (Unit: Millions of dollars)

to the South. Gaeseong is only 8km from Panmunjeom.

Following an initial proposal made in 2000, the project was formally commenced in November 2002 with the North’s

and economic celebrities from the two sides in attendance. At

promulgation of the Gaeseong Industrial District Act. The work

present, more than 120 manufacturers from the South and their

commencement ceremony was held in June 2003, with political

subcontractors are operating in the Gaeseong Industrial Complex, while more than 50,000 North Koreans are working there. The production of goods began in December 2004.

December 5, 2007

December 11, 2007

Concerning the Gaeseong Industrial Complex, the two sides have signed four agreements on the Normalization of Gaeseong Industrial complex, etc. in addition to the agreements on communications, customs clearance, quarantine, and stay.

Efforts for Lasting Peace Commencement of South Koreans' visit to Gaeseong

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Commencement of freight transportation on rail between Munsan in the South and Bongdong in the North

The government of the South has made efforts for a permanent settlement of peace on the Korean Peninsula and the 267

development of good relations with the North through dialogues and exchange and cooperation. It has stuck to its basic stance, i.e. it will continue to strive to improve its relations with the North through dialogue and cooperation even during periods of extreme tension such as that occasioned by the North’s temporary closure of the Gaeseong Industrial Complex. Generally speaking, the government of the South and the South Korean people have succeeded in maintaining a calm and stable social atmosphere.

The South copes flexibly with all outbreaks of tension on the Korean Peninsula by continuing dialogue and cooperation to maintain peace with neighboring countries. As such, South Korea may be claimed to be one of the safest countries in the world.

Since its inauguration in February 2013, the Park Geunhye government of the South has been pushing ahead with the Trust Building Process on the Korean Peninsula in a bid to develop better relations with the North, primarily by building trust between the two Koreas based on a solid national security stance, securing peace on the Korean Peninsula, and laying the basis for unification. The government is doing its best to promote deterrence, dialogue and cooperation in a balanced fashion and to encourage the North to make the right choices, including renunciation of its nuclear program. It will accelerate its efforts for joint development with the North in order to lay the basis for peaceful unification, and will also make efforts to contribute to peace and prosperity in Northeast Asia and the world through the country’s unification.

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