President Lee Jae-myung: "We must break the vicious cycle of hostility and confrontation... in the spirit of the October 4 Declaration."

Congratulatory remarks at the 10/4 declaration ceremony... “Resolving the Korean Peninsula issue is not easy, but it is the path we must take.”

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Lee Eun-jeong = On the 19th anniversary of the October 4 Inter-Korean Summit Declaration, President Lee Jae-myung said, “We must break the vicious cycle of hostility and confrontation to create a virtuous cycle of peace and prosperity.”

On the 4th, President Lee said in a congratulatory speech at the ceremony commemorating the '10/4 Inter-Korean Summit Declaration' read by Vice Minister of Unification Kim Nam-jung, saying, "The journey to resolve issues on the Korean Peninsula and solidify peace will never be easy. Still, it is clear that this is the path we must take."

President Lee recalled former President Roh Moo-hyun's visit to North Korea on October 2, 2007 and said, "The phrase 'Road to solidify peace, road to prosperity' left at the last gateway to North Korea most clearly reveals the meaning of the '10/4 Inter-Korean Summit Declaration'."

President Lee said that the October 4th Inter-Korean Summit Declaration was “a historic agreement to transform inter-Korean relations into a relationship of mutual respect and trust, end military hostility, and jointly create a permanent peace system beyond the armistice system,” adding, “Unfortunately, as the promise for peace and prosperity was not kept, hostility and confrontation took its place.”

At the same time, he pointed out that “hostility and confrontation cause material and human damage and become an obstacle to the economy,” and “they have even been misused as a justification for threatening democracy.”

He continued, "It is time to recall the words of President Roh Moo-hyun, who said, 'The only thing that can be achieved through reciprocity is the repetition of crises and confrontational structures that occur from time to time,'" and added, "We must return to the spirit of the '10/4 Inter-Korean Summit Declaration'."

President Lee also explained, "I revealed to the people and the international community three blueprints: inclusive peaceful coexistence that respects each other, stable peaceful coexistence without the need for fighting, and responsible peaceful coexistence that contributes to world peace. This is a blueprint for peace and prosperity that re-interprets the spirit of the October 4 Declaration in today's language."

At the same time, he asked, “I hope that everyone will join us so that permanent peace can take root in this land by inheriting President Roh Moo-hyun’s belief and will for peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula.”