Declaration of Termination of War Is First Process for Peace: KCNA Commentary

Pyongyang, July 24 (KCNA) -- There are growing voices demanding the adoption of declaration on the termination of war in south Korea.

The Headquarters for Peace Treaty Movement and other civic and public organizations comprising people from all walks of life, media and analyzers in south Korea call for the adoption of declaration on the termination of war this year as was agreed in the Panmunjom Declaration, saying that the "declaration is an entrance to peace on the Korean peninsula" and "the U.S. has to show a responsible attitude for lasting peace-keeping regime".

The south Korean authorities, too, clarified the adoption of the declaration as their goal for the year, which is supported by various political parties.

But it is only the "Liberal Korea Party" and other conservative forces that stand against it, insisting "the declaration on the termination of war does not mean the advent of peace".

This constitutes the desperate bid to stop the adoption, scuttle the trend for reconciliation between the north and the south and between the DPRK and the U.S. and to create the phase of acute stand-off and war on the peninsula.

As for the issue of the adoption of the declaration on the termination of war, it is the first process for defusing tension and building solid peace-keeping mechanism on the peninsula and a primary step for building confidence between the DPRK and the U.S. at the same time.

It has been almost 65 years since the conclusion of the armistice agreement, but ceasefire still persists on the peninsula.

Ceasefire can never mean the termination of war and it can not guarantee peace. This is a serious lesson taught by history.

The ceasefire that has lasted unprecedentedly long in history is like a time bomb set, threatening peace and security in the Korean peninsula, region and the rest of the world.

The Panmunjom Declaration clarified that it is a historical task which brooks no further delay to terminate the current abnormal ceasefire and build durable peace-keeping mechanism on the peninsula, and stipulated it as one of important commitments to declare the termination of war and convert the armistice agreement into a peace treaty.

The U.S., too, supported the issue of terminating war and this has already been agreed upon at the DPRK-U.S. summit talks.

The declaration on the termination of war in the peninsula can make a substantial contribution to peace in the region and the world and this will be beneficial both to the DPRK and the U.S. as well as to the international community.

The adoption of the declaration on the termination of war is the first and foremost process in the light of ending the extreme hostility and establishing new relations between the DPRK and the U.S. and also in the light of opening up new future for peace and security in the interests of the two peoples.

This issue should have been settled long before in view of the spirit of the Panmunjom summit talks and the DPRK-U.S. summit talks.

It is deeply regretful that the issue of the declaration on the termination of war that was agreed before the world has not yet seen its solution due to various conditions and excuses.

However, the riff-raffs like the LKP finding it hard to support itself after being abandoned are saying this or that about such an important issue. This is a confrontational act of pursuing one's own dirty ambition, indifferent to the destiny and prospect of the nation.

Clear is the stand of the peace-loving forces towards the conservative group who behaves perversely while asserting that "declaration of the termination of war does not bring peace itself".

Peace can come only after the declaration of the termination of war. -0-