"Korea summit"

Translated "Avante!"article by Ângelo Alves, Member of the PCP Political Committee

The taking place of the inter-Korea Summit, at the Peace House, in Panmunjon, on April 27th last, with the presence of delegations, headed by Moon Jae-in and Kim Jung Un, is an event of the greatest importance for the Peninsula of Korea’s situation evolution and at international level. The Panmunjon Declaration content , the released statements along with the symbolic elements that were present at the summit and the negotiations, hold real signals of hope, towards a “ peace era” for the peninsula, and as the Declaration states, to have been initiated.

In a world, marked by a growing instability, a more and more imperialism severe militarist and war strategy, these developments have an important meaning, on what concerns international tension détente. The Summit Declaration approaches important issues and challenges, in the path towards peace: states the desire to end all hostile actions on both sides; establishes the objective of changing the current de-militarized zone into a Peace Zone, and create in East Korea Sea, a peace maritime zone; decides the taking place of regular meet-ups, among military authorities, namely at minister of defence level; and states the intention of ending the current “non-natural armistice” state of things, by replacing it by a “solid peace regime, in the Peninsula”.

Beyond the more general principles and purposes, the Declaration approaches two more major issues: disarmament and denuclearization, amid the Peninsula. But the Declaration text itself, demonstrates, that a long path is ahead. Concerning denuclearization, and beyond a general reference to “international community mobilization in support of denuclearization, in the Peninsula, the only solid references concern but the RPDK, and enhancement of the taken steps, meanwhile demonstrated, to be remarked, simultaneously, the absence of references to the Republic of Korea on the matter.

The disarmament objective, a phased plan, is conditioned by the military tension diminishing and the building of mutual trust. In fact, there is no other way. However, references on the ending of the foreign military forces presence, amid the Korea peninsula, are non-existent, one of the great obstacles to Peace and to a political solution of a conflict, unleashed by an imperialist intervention.

The reunification, cooperation and humanitarian problems’ issue resolution, in result of the peninsula division, are the great proclaimed objective. And that is, side-by-side with denuclearization and the end of the foreign military presence, the great project that ought to return peace and the union between the whole people of Korea. The undergone current step is of major importance. But it ought to be naivety to consider that the Panmunjom Summit is a guarantee, in itself, of that great objective; and that it already constitutes a peace agreement; or instead the USA have become, as if by magic, peace advocates throughout the Peninsula of Korea, at the very same time they light fire, worldwide.

Time ought to prove how far the Panmunjom Summit ought to go. Along this path, many will be the obstacles imperialism will present against a just, sovereign and lasting peace, in Korea, as Trump’s statements prove.

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