President Lee: "Peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula is the top priority... Winter may be long, but spring will come"

At an event held at the National Assembly on the 27th to mark the 8th anniversary of the Panmunjom Declaration for Peace, Prosperity and Reunification of the Korean Peninsula, the government and the ruling party expressed hope for the resumption of inter-Korean dialogue and corporate economic cooperation. In a written congratulatory message, President Lee Jae Myung said he would work toward peaceful coexistence and shared growth between the two Koreas. In particular, Democratic Party of Korea leader Jung Chung-rae drew attention by expressing hope for the resumption of inter-Korean economic cooperation by Korean companies.
President Lee said he would pursue the Korean Peninsula Peaceful Coexistence Policy without wavering. He added, "We must prevent the uncertainty and anxiety caused by the war in the Middle East from spilling over onto the Korean Peninsula, and create a path where everyone on the peninsula can live without worrying about war."
He emphasized, "Even if winter is long, spring will eventually come. If we steadily build efforts toward peaceful coexistence and shared growth with the spirit of piling up soil to make a mountain, I firmly believe that a full spring will return to the Korean Peninsula."
Jung Chung-rae asked that local governments also be given a greater role in inter-Korean exchanges.
Jung said, "In border regions such as Gangwon State, Gyeonggi Province, and Incheon, a range of livelihood issues and the need for humanitarian projects are being raised," and suggested, "I hope companies will also consider ways to engage in economic cooperation with North Korea." Former President Moon Jae-in and his wife Kim Jung-sook, along with many former and current figures from progressive administrations, attended the event. National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik toured Sarangjae Hall of the National Assembly, the National Assembly Building Central Entrance Hall, and Independence Memory Square together with the former president and his wife.
Former President Moon asked U.S. President Donald Trump to make a decision that would open the door to North Korea-U.S. dialogue. He said that although attention from the United States and the international community is being diverted by the war in the Middle East, the Korean Peninsula issue must never be pushed down the priority list or left unattended. Moon requested, "President Trump, please show the unique decisiveness and wisdom to bring North Korea back to the negotiating table." He also urged Kim Jong Un to take part in North Korea-U.S. dialogue. He said the Panmunjom Declaration was not the creation of the Moon Jae-in administration alone. He described it as the result of combining the achievements and aspirations of the public, including the July 4 South–North Joint Statement under the Park Chung Hee administration, the Agreement on Reconciliation, Non-Aggression, and Exchange and Cooperation Between South and North Korea under the Roh Tae-woo administration, the June 15th North-South Joint Declaration under the Kim Dae-jung administration, and the 2007 North-South Summit Declaration under the Roh Moo-hyun administration.
Moon said, "The conditions for inter-Korean exchange and cooperation have become even more difficult because of the North Korea–China–Russia grouping and the intensifying confrontation between the United States and China." He added, "At times like this, the South and the North must recognize each other's reality and boldly move toward a path of 'shared interests' that seeks common prosperity."
rainman@fnnews.com Kim Kyung-soo, Choi Jong-geun, Song Ji-won Reporter