Process of adopting Seoul Declaration for Peace

The Seoul Declaration for Peace on the Korean Peninsula, adopted at the Third Asia-Europe Meeting on its opening day Friday, contains support and encouragement for the rapid rapprochement between South and North Korea following the inter-Korean summit held in Pyongyang last June. However, there were some problems in the course of adopting the declaration due to questions over North Korea's eligibility as a viable member of the international community.

To create the draft of the five-point agreement, which filled just one A-4 sheet of paper, related working-level officials had to revise its contents on more than ten occasions since they began to draw up the document last April. In particular, the draft committee officials were engaged in fierce debates over the insertion of a phrase stating that North Korea should endeavor to dissipate its threats of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). The issue was finally settled with Seoul's persuasion and coordination, and the officials adopted a compromise version that stated ASEM member states would contribute to promoting peace and security on the peninsula. Thus, the declaration has more substantial meaning than a simple symbolic statement.

The declaration makes it clear that the ASEM states will step up their efforts to improve relations with Pyongyang not only through bilateral dialogue, personnel exchanges and economic cooperation, but also by encouraging the North's participation in multilateral channels of dialogue. Shortly after the issuance of the declaration, Britain and Germany and some other European countries announced their intent to normalize relations with the North.

The European Union (EU) put forward some preconditions for its rapprochement with the North Korean regime, such as solutions to human rights problems and the renunciation of weapons of mass destruction. But it is now moving to shift its traditional strategy by indicating that these pending issues could be addressed after diplomatic normalization.

The Seoul government expressed its willingness to play an important facilitating role for Pyongyang to participate in various ASEM programs even before its admission into the forum and to pursue diplomatic functions in relation with the EU.