While speculation is circulating that "ending the Korean War" could be on the table in the upcoming inter-Korean summit, a legislative forum raised concerns that a hasty declaration to end the war may cause confusion.
The National Assembly Human Rights Forum led by Rep. Hong Il-pyo of the Liberty Korea Party called on the government to prioritize denuclearization and a peace treaty over the declaration of the end of the war.
"If the armistice loses its validity, the North may claim nullification of the Northern Limit Line (NLL)," Hong said Tuesday. "Therefore, the two Koreas should terminate the war after signing the peace treaty. Also, the envisioned treaty should stipulate that the two nations' territories will remain as they are."
Since the two Koreas technically remain at war under the armistice ― signed by the United Nations, China and North Korea ― ending the war means the end of the armistice. In a meeting with the media Friday, President Moon said that the declaration would take place before the peace treaty.
Even though chances are slim that President Moon and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will declare to end the war, they are expected to touch on the subject in an effort to achieve peace.
This would undermine the legitimacy of the NLL, a disputed maritime demarcation line. The line has been a hotbed of inter-Korean military confrontations; while Seoul and the United Nations Command view the NLL as part of the armistice, the North has claimed the agreement lacks substantive enactment for the line.
"If the North pushes for enforcement of the International Law of the Sea, the South should withdraw its territorial limits about 10 to 20 kilometers," Hong noted.
Additionally, the lawmaker urged repatriation of South Koreans detained in the North. In a press conference Monday, he cited statistics issued by the unification ministry ― an estimated 516 South Koreans have been kidnapped by the North since the 1953 armistice. They include 458 fishermen; 30 soldiers and police officers; 11 people who were kidnapped in an airplane hijacking in 1969; and some South Korean pastors.
"Only a few of about 50,000 soldiers and 90,000 civilians, who were detained in the North during the Korean War, would be able to return home since they are aging. The upcoming summit could be their last chance to come back home," Hong said.
"Before ending the war, humanitarian issues relevant to the war should be resolved. Ending the war without discussing such problems is unreasonable," he added.
.jpg/dims/resize/740/optimize)