South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun and top leader of Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Il signed a joint declaration in Pyongyang Thursday, said a news release issued in Seoul.
The Declaration on the Advancement of South-North Korean Relations, Peace and Prosperity was signed at the Paekhawon State Guesthouse at 1:00 p.m.(0400 GMT), said the news release.
According to the eight-point declaration, "historic meetings and discussions" were held during Roh's three-day visit to Pyongyang.
"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," said the declaration.
It said the two sides, "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," made the declaration to expand and advance inter-Korean relations.
South Korea and the DPRK "have agreed to resolve the issue of unification on their own initiative and according to the spirit of 'by-the-Korean-people-themselves,'" the document said.
The declaration said the two sides have also agreed to 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 to overhaul their respective legislative and institutional apparatuses in a bid to develop inter-Korean relations in a reunification-oriented direction," it said.
The declaration calls for ending military hostility between the two sides.
"The South and the North have agreed not to antagonize each other, reduce military tension, and resolve issues in dispute through dialogue and negotiation," it said.
South Korea and the DPRK will create a special peace zone in the Yellow Sea west of the Korean Peninsula, said the document.
"The South and the North have agreed to designate a joint fishing area in the West Sea to avoid accidental clashes," it said.
The two sides will hold a defense ministers' meeting in Pyongyang in 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," said the document.
Both sides call for "a permanent peace regime" to "end the current armistice regime" on the Korean Peninsula, the declaration said.
"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," it said.
Regarding the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula, South Korea and the DPRK have agreed to work together to implement smoothly two documents achieved at the six-party talks, said the declaration.
On the economic front, South Korea and the DPRK have agreed to further develop their cooperation projects on the basis of balanced development, co-prosperity, common interests and mutual aid, it said.
"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 declaration said.
South Korea and the DPRK 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, it said.
In social areas, they have agreed to boost exchanges and cooperation in the field of history, language, education, science and technology, culture and arts, and sports, said the document.
"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," it said.
The two sides will actively promote humanitarian cooperation projects, said the declaration.
"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, " it said.
South Korea and the DPRK will strengthen cooperation to protect the rights and interests of the Korean people, including overseas Koreans, said the declaration.
With the aim to implement the declaration, the two sides agreed to hold prime ministers' talks, it said, adding that the first round of meetings will be held in Seoul in November.
"The South and the North have agreed that their highest authorities will meet frequently for the advancement of relations between the two sides," the declaration concluded.
On Tuesday, Roh traveled some 200 km overland to Pyongyang for the inter-Korean summit, the second of its kind since the Korean Peninsula was divided more than half a century ago.
Roh's predecessor, Kim Dae-jung, traveled to the DPRK for the first inter-Korean summit in June 2000.
Source: Xinhua
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