CINA

본문

10.6/7 INTERNATIONAL DAY OF SOLIDARITY..
..with the Struggle for Democracy in Burma

..according to an advertisement on MTU's free board (10.6)

For more informations.. please check out:

☞ Free Burma Campaign/S.K. (버마 민족민주동맹 한국지부)

☞ Call for int'l action on Burma (10.6/7) (The Irrawaddy)

☞ International Day of Solidarity.. (indymedia/int'l.)

☞ 'They Come at Night and Murder the Monks' (Der Spiegel/Germany, 10.3)

☞ [10.2] Solidarity Rally in Seoul (Korean report, pictures)

본문

2007 N-S (Korean) Summit
Day #3/The Final

 Today the Summit (fortunately) ended - with a more or less meaningful (the coming weeks/months will show it.. or not)..

..Declaration for advancement of South-North Korean relations, peace and prosperity

In accordance with the agreement between President Roh Moo-hyun of the Republic of Korea and Chairman Kim Jong Il of the National Defense Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, President Roh visited Pyongyang from October 2-4, 2007.

During the visit, there were historic meetings and discussions.

At the meetings and talks, the two sides have reaffirmed the spirit of the June 15 Joint Declaration and had frank discussions on various issues related to realizing the advancement of South-North relations, peace on the Korean Peninsula, common prosperity of the Korean people and unification of Korea.

Expressing confidence that they can forge a new era of national prosperity and unification on their own initiative if they combine their will and capabilities, the two sides declare as follows, in order to expand and advance South-North relations based on the June 15 Joint Declaration:

1. The South and the North shall uphold and endeavor actively to realize the June 15 Declaration.

The South and the North have agreed to resolve the issue of unification on their own initiative and according to the spirit of “by-the-Korean-people-themselves.”

The South and the North will work out ways to commemorate the June 15 anniversary of the announcement of the South-North Joint Declaration to reflect the common will to faithfully carry it out.

2. The South and the North have agreed to firmly transform inter-Korean relations into ties of mutual respect and trust, transcending the differences in ideology and systems.

The South and the North have agreed not to interfere in the internal affairs of the other and agreed to resolve inter-Korean issues in the spirit of reconciliation, cooperation and reunification.

The South and the North have agreed to overhaul their respective legislative and institutional apparatuses in a bid to develop inter-Korean relations in a reunification-oriented direction.

The South and the North have agreed to proactively pursue dialogue and contacts in various areas, including the legislatures of the two Koreas, in order to resolve matters concerning the expansion and advancement of inter-Korean relations in a way that meets the aspirations of the entire Korean people.

3. The South and the North have agreed to closely work together to put an end to military hostilities, mitigate tensions and guarantee peace on the Korean Peninsula.

The South and the North have agreed not to antagonize each other, reduce military tension, and resolve issues in dispute through dialogue and negotiation.

The South and the North have agreed to oppose war on the Korean Peninsula and to adhere strictly to their obligation to nonaggression.

The South and the North have agreed to designate a joint fishing area in the West Sea to avoid accidental clashes. The South’s Minister of Defense and the North’s Minister of the People’s Armed Forces have also agreed to hold talks in Pyongyang this November to discuss military confidence-building measures, including military guarantees covering the plans and various cooperative projects for making this joint fishing area into a peace area.

4. The South and the North both recognize the need to end the current armistice regime and build a permanent peace regime. The South and the North have also agreed to work together to advance the matter of having the leaders of the three or four parties directly concerned to convene on the Peninsula and declare an end to the war.

With regard to the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula, the South and the North have agreed to work together to implement smoothly the September 19, 2005 Joint Statement and the February 13, 2007 Agreement achieved at the Six-Party Talks.

5. The South and the North have agreed to facilitate, expand, and further develop inter-Korean economic cooperation projects on a continual basis for balanced economic development and co-prosperity on the Korean Peninsula in accordance with the principles of common interests, co-prosperity and mutual aid.

The South and the North reached an agreement on promoting economic cooperation, including investments, pushing forward with the building of infrastructure and the development of natural resources. Given the special nature of inter-Korean cooperative projects, the South and the North have agreed to grant preferential conditions and benefits to those projects.

The South and the North have agreed to create a “special peace and cooperation zone in the West Sea” encompassing Haeju and vicinity in a bid to proactively push ahead with the creation of a joint fishing zone and maritime peace zone, establishment of a special economic zone, utilization of Haeju harbor, passage of civilian vessels via direct routes in Haeju and the joint use of the Han River estuary.

The South and the North have agreed to complete the first-phase construction of the Gaeseong Industrial Complex at an early date and embark on the second-stage development project. The South and the North have agreed to open freight rail services between Munsan and Bongdong and promptly complete various institutional measures, including those related to passage, communication, and customs clearance procedures.

The South and the North have agreed to discuss repairs of the Gaeseong-Sinuiju railroad and the Gaeseong-Pyongyang expressway for their joint use.

The South and the North have agreed to establish cooperative complexes for shipbuilding in Anbyeon and Nampo, while continuing cooperative projects in various areas such as agriculture, health and medical services and environmental protection.

The South and the North have agreed to upgrade the status of the existing Inter-Korean Economic Cooperation Promotion Committee to a Joint Committee for Inter-Korean Economic Cooperation to be headed by deputy prime minister-level officials.

6. The South and the North have agreed to boost exchanges and cooperation in the social areas covering history, language, education, science and technology, culture and arts, and sports to highlight the long history and excellent culture of the Korean people.

The South and the North have agreed to carry out tours to Mt. Baekdu and open nonstop flight services between Seoul and Mt. Baekdu for this purpose.

The South and the North have agreed to send a joint cheering squad from both sides to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The squad will use the Gyeongui Railway Line for the first-ever joint Olympic cheering.

7. The South and the North have agreed to actively promote humanitarian cooperation projects.

The South and the North have agreed to expand reunion of separated family members and their relatives and promote exchanges of video messages.

To this end, the South and the North have agreed to station resident representatives from each side at the reunion center at Mt. Geumgang when it is completed and regularize reunions of separated family members and their relatives.

The South and the North have agreed to actively cooperate in case of emergencies, including natural disasters, according to the principles of fraternal love, humanitarianism and mutual assistance.

8. The South and the North have agreed to increase cooperation to promote the interests of the Korean people and the rights and interests of overseas Koreans on the international stage.

The South and the North have agreed to hold inter-Korean prime ministers’ talks for the implementation of this Declaration and have agreed to hold the first round of meetings in November 2007 in Seoul.

The South and the North have agreed that their highest authorities will meet frequently for the advancement of relations between the two sides.

Oct. 4, 2007
Pyongyang

Roh Moo-hyun President The Republic of Korea

Kim Jong-il Chairman, National Defense Commission The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

*****

Related: 

☞ 'Dissed' by Kim Jong-il (A. Times/HK)

Well, more about the issue likely later - possibly after the weekend! (sorry!!)

본문

2007 N-S (Korean) Summit
Day #2

Well, the most interesting/important (^^) information on about the first two days of the summit [BTW in the North it's just called as "(S.Korean President) Roh Moo Hyun Visit Pyongyang"/로무현대통령 평양방문] is definetely following:
"When Kim Jong Il appeared at the plaza, the crowd broke into thunderous cheers of 'Hurrah!' rocking the earth and sky" (KCNA about Kim's y'day's first performance).

Today's meeting between eversmiling (still or again complete stoned)

Roh Moo-hyun and (still or again) angry Kim Jong-il started like that..

..but after Roh shared with Kim his dope - everything was

complete fine (The Guardian: "Kim comes out smiling")

The rest of the (of course) not so important (^^) "news" you can read here:

☞ A summary of the latest Summit News (Yonhap)

☞ Sunny south meets frosty north.. (Guardian/UK)

☞ NK Youths Expect Benefit from Summit (K. Times/Chosen Shinbo)

☞ Seoul doubles up the Dear Leader (A. Times/HK)

Korea Times about the latest "developments":

Leaders Share Consensus on Korean Peace

President Roh Moo-hyun and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il shared a broad consensus on establishing peace on the Korean Peninsula during their talks here Wednesday.

Roh mentioned this at a luncheon meeting with South Korean journalists at Okryugwan, a restaurant famous for its cold noodle, following his two hours of talks with the North Korean leader.

The President, however, indicated that Kim showed skepticism over the Communist country's market-opening and economic reform.

Roh and his 300-strong entourage will return home today on schedule although, during the second round of talks at the Baekhwawon State Guesthouse, Kim proposed that the president extend his stay in Pyongyang one day until the morning of Oct. 5, according to Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Information Yoon Seung-yong. The proposal was politely turned down after the presidential aides held a consultation.

``We will make a firm commitment with each other on reaching peace on the Korean Peninsula,'' Roh told the reporters. ``We shared the need to map out our measures for Korean peace for the future.'' But he was not specific on details.

Roh also acknowledged that there was a ``wall of distrust'' between the South and the North.

He said that he felt his counterpart rejected open reformation, noting that developing trust would take time and people should be patient.

One example of this was the Gaeseong Industrial Complex where North Korean workers are employed by South Koreans to manufacture goods, Roh said. He added that there exists a perception gap between the two Koreas.

``We evaluate the Gaeseong Industrial Complex as a successful project and a good example of reform and an open North Korea, but that is just our perception. We need to respect the North's view on this also,'' he noted.

Roh also said that traveling from Seoul to Pyongyang costs him a lot and he didn't want to return home without any achievement.

South Korean officials present at the summit were Deputy Prime Minister and Ministry of Finance and Economy Kwon O-kyu, Unification Minister Lee Jae-joung, National Intelligence Service Director Kim Man-bok and
Chief Presidential Secretary for Foreign and Security Policy Bae Jong-chun.

Kim Jong-il attended the discussion only with Kim Yang-gon, the director of the United Front Department of North Korea's ruling Workers' Party.

Unlike their first encounter Tuesday, the leaders were smiling and appeared in good humor.
In response to Roh's thanks for Kim's unscheduled greeting in a welcoming ceremony at the April 25 House of Culture, Kim said, ``The President comes and I can't stay at home idle since I am not patient.''

The leaders will announce a joint declaration this morning to sum up the outcome of the summit, according to officials accompanying Roh.
For the peace system on the Korean Peninsula, the declaration will likely touch upon a peaceful resolution and measures to ease tension, as well as the denuclearization of North Korea, they said.

The joint declaration will confirm the maintenance of inter-Korean economic projects such as the Gaeseong Industrial Complex and will likely expand the complexes to other regions in the North.

Due to rain in Pyongyang, Roh delayed planting a ``tree of peace'' until today.

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2007/10/116_11239.html

본문

2007 N-S (Korean) Summit
Day #1

Yesterday (10.01), just few hours before the summit, the S.K. semi-official news agency Yonhap wrote that the "N.K. leader may surprise the world again..".

Well, actually until now there was/is no real surprise. Except the fact that Kim Jong-il during his first meeting with Roh Moo-hyun was looking complete annoyed, angry, at least in a real bad mood (while Roh all the time was smiling like complete stoned..).

Kim Jong-il to the interpreter: "Who's that??"

The interpreter: "Well, your guest for the next two days,

Roh Moo-hyun from the south." Kim: "WTFH he's doing here?

Why he can't stay at his f.. home?" "Well, he wants to visit you

and talk about peace and unification and bullshit like that.."

"Eeh, f.. you! F.. them all! I wanna be left in peace!

Please - eeh.. that's 'n order!!"

Later Kim was trying a kind of handshake with Roh, but because of some co-ordination

difficulties (likely to much cognac and/or soju the night before..) it took a while..

..until he solved that problem successfully!

But finally the rest of the 12-minute meeting passed without any major incidents!!

☞ Leaders of Two Koreas Meet in Pyongyang (Washington Post)

☞ A crack opens in the Korean wall (Asia Times/HK)

☞ Roh begins Pyongyang visit with brief meeting with N.K. leader (Yonhap)

☞ Foreign cars and wandering hands at summit (Reuters)

본문

Since last Friday political/human right groups/activists in Seoul were/are protesting against the bloody oppression of the Democracy Movement by the junta in Burma. Friday and Sat. the activists gathered near Gwanghwamun in downtown Seoul and y'day Burmese migrant workers and their Korean supporters demonstrated in front of the embassy of "Myanmar" (i.e. Burma):

For more detailed reports please check out:

☞ "Slideshow".. (..by OhmyNews)

☞ [9월 29일]버마.. 촛불 집회 ("All..)

☞ [9월 30일]버마 대사관 앞 긴급 항의 집회 (..Together"/다함께)

☞ "BURMA FREE"...버마 대사관으로 간 버마 이주노동자들 (VoP)

☞ Myanmar's Pro-Democracy Movement Gets Support (K. Times)  

☞ [9월 30일, 인천/부평역] 버마.. 촛불집회 (다함께)

Related:

☞ Activists call for nationwide general strike (Newsweek)

☞ Cracks emerge in Myanmar military unity (Asia Times/HK)

☞ International Bloggers' Day for Burma on the 4th of October

☞ Mizzima News

☞ The Irrawaddy

☞ Live blog: latest developments