President Roh Moo Hyun visited Pyongyang from October 2 to 4, 2007 under an agreement reached between Kim Jong Il, chairman of the DPRK National Defense Commission, and Roh Moo Hyun, president of the Republic of Korea.
Historic meetings and talks were held in the period of the visit.
The meetings and talks reconfirmed the spirit of the June 15 joint declaration and frankly discussed all issues related to boosting the north-south relations, achieving peace on the Korean Peninsula, prosperity common to the nation and reunification.
Expressing the belief that the nation can open up the era of national prosperity, the new era of independent reunification, when it pools intention and strength, both sides declare as follows to boost the north-south relations on the basis of the June 15 joint declaration:
1. The north and the south shall uphold and positively implement the June 15 joint declaration.
The north and the south agreed to independently solve the reunification issue in the spirit of “By our nation itself”, put the dignity and interests of the nation above all and orientate everything to this objective.
The north and the south agreed to push ahead with the matter of commemorating June 15 reflecting the will to invariably implement the joint declaration.
2. The north and the south agreed to definitely convert the north-south relations into those of mutual respect and confidence irrespective of differing ideologies and systems.
They agreed not to interfere in the internal affairs of the other side but solve problems related to the north-south relations in favor of promoting reconciliation, cooperation and reunification.
They agreed to adjust their legal and institutional mechanisms with a view to developing the north-south relations to meet the purpose of reunification.
They agreed to positively promote dialogues and contacts in all fields including parliaments of both sides to solve all the issues related to boosting the inter-Korean relations in line with the desire of the nation.
3. The north and the south agreed to closely cooperate with each other in the efforts to put an end to the hostile military relations and ensure détente and peace on the Korean Peninsula.
They agreed not to antagonize each other but to ease the military tension and settle disputes through dialogues and negotiations.
They agreed to oppose any war on the peninsula and faithfully honor the commitment of non-aggression.
The north and the south agreed to hold the talks between the minister of the People’s Armed Forces of the north side and the minister of National Defence of the south side in Pyongyang within November this year with a view to discussing measures for building military confidence including the proposal for fixing waters for joint fishing and turning them into peaceful ones in order to prevent accidental clashes in the West Sea and the issue of providing military guarantees for various forms of cooperation undertakings.
4. The north and the south shared the understanding about the need to put an end to the existing armistice mechanism and build a lasting peace mechanism and agreed to cooperate with each other in the efforts to push forward the issue of arranging the meeting of the heads of state of three or four parties directly concerned on the Korean Peninsula and declaring an end to a war.
They agreed to make joint efforts to ensure the smooth implementation of “September 19 joint statement” and “February 13 agreement” made at the six-party talks for the solution of the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula.
5. The north and the south agreed to reenergize economic cooperation and make its sustained development on the principles of ensuring common interests and co-prosperity and meeting each other’s need with a view to ensuring balanced development of national economy and achieving common prosperity.
The north and the south agreed to encourage investments for economic cooperation and energetically push forward the construction of economic infrastructure and development of resources and grant various kinds of preferential treatment and special privilege to suit the peculiarities of cooperation undertakings between compatriots.
The north and the south agreed to establish “special area for peace and cooperation in West Sea” covering Haeju area and waters off its surrounding areas and positively push forward undertakings including the issue of setting waters for joint fishing and those for peace, construction of special economic zone, active use of Haeju Port, direct passage of civilian vessels through Haeju Port and joint use of the estuary of the River Rimjin.
The north and the south agreed to complete the construction of the first-phase project of the Kaesong Industrial Zone at an early date, start its second-phase development, begin the railway freight transport between Munsan and Pongdong and rapidly take all the measures for institutional guarantees including the issues of passage, communications and customs clearance.
They agreed to discuss and push forward the issue of reconstructing and repairing the railways between Kaesong and Sinuiju and the motorway between Kaesong and Pyongyang in order to jointly use them.
They agreed to build zones for cooperation in ship-building in Anbyon and Nampho and conduct cooperation undertakings in different fields including agriculture, healthcare and environmental protection.
They agreed to upgrade the present “North-South Committee for the Promotion of Economic Cooperation” to the “joint committee for inter-Korean economic cooperation” at vice-premier’s level for the satisfactory promotion of inter-Korean economic cooperation.
6. The north and the south agreed to develop the exchange and cooperation in the social and cultural fields such as history, language, education, science and technology, culture and arts and sports to add shine to the time-honored history and fine culture of the Korean nation.
They agreed to start the tour of Mt. Paektu and inaugurate the Mt. Paektu-Seoul direct flight to this end.
They agreed to let the cheering groups of the north and the south participate in the 2008 Beijing Olympics by using the train to run on the west coastal railroad for the first time.
7. The north and the south agreed to positively push forward the humanitarian cooperation undertakings.
They agreed to expand the meeting of separated families and relatives and go ahead with the work to exchange video correspondence.
To this end, the north and the south agreed to permanently post representatives of both sides at the reunion centre at Mt. Kumgang resort when completed with a view to putting the reunion of separated families and relatives on a regular basis.
They agreed to positively cooperate with each other in case of calamities including natural disaster on the principle of compatriotism, humanitarianism and mutual support and assistance.
8. The north and the south agreed to strengthen the cooperation in the efforts to meet the interests of the nation and rights and interest of overseas Koreans on the international arena.
The north and the south agreed to hold the talks between the premier of the north and the prime minister of the south for the implementation of this declaration and decided to hold their first meeting in Seoul within November this year.
The north and the south reached an agreement on ensuring that the top leaders of both sides meet from time to time to discuss pending issues for the purpose of developing the inter-Korean relations.
Pyongyang, October 4, 2007