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By Min Yea-Ji and Kim Young Shin
President Moon Jae-in urged support from world leaders for settling peace on the Korean Peninsula during the first session of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) held in Brussels, Belgium on Oct. 19. "Peace on the Korean Peninsula will ultimately lead to the prosperity of Asia and Europe," said the President.
“Europe has overcome the Cold War politically and formulated the European Union economically starting with the Europe Coal and Steel Community,” said President Moon during the retreat session. “Dissolving the last remaining Cold War rivalry on the Korean Peninsula will be similar to how Europe built the order of peace and prosperity.”
“When conditions are met, South and North Korea will work on economic cooperation and this will not just be limited to economic cooperation in Northeast Asia but lead to multi-national security,” said Moon. “With this vision in mind, last August, I suggested the East Asian Railroad Community which involves six Northeast Asian nations and the United States.”
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The heads of the 51 European and Asian countries adopted the chair’s statement that says “the development of inter-Korean relations, the complete denuclearization of, and the peace regime on the Korean Peninsula are important for peace, security and stability, not only in East Asia but also for the entire world.”
The leaders welcomed the Korean government’s effort and the diplomatic initiatives by other partners to build permanent peace and security on a denuclearized Korean Peninsula. They also welcomed the improvement of the inter-Korean relationship, especially after the recent three inter-Korean summits and the North Korea-U.S. summit.
The ASEM leaders also supported the complete and swift implementation of the Panmunjeom Declaration, Pyeongyang Declaration and the joint statement made at the Singapore Summit, all with the common goal of denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula and bringing lasting peace.
The heads of states also called for North Korea’s complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization and implementation of the United Nations Security Council resolutions.
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