U.N. Assembly hails historic Korean summit

November 1, 2000
Web posted at: 9:44 AM HKT (0144 GMT)

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) -- The U.N. General Assembly adopted the first resolution ever introduced jointly by representatives of North and South Korea on Tuesday, encouraging the leaders of the two rival nations to implement a wide-ranging declaration they issued in June.

Hailing June's historic summit meeting between the leaders, the resolution was introduced by ambassadors Li Hyong-chol of North Korea and Sun Joun-yung of South Korea and co-sponsored by more than 150 other countries, including the United States, China, Russia and Japan.

The resolution, adopted by consensus without a vote, said the Assembly "welcomes and supports the inter-Korean summit and the joint declaration adopted on June 15, 2000, by the two leaders of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) and the Republic of Korea (South Korea)."

At the three-day summit, held in Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, North Korean leader Kim Jong-il and South Korean President Kim Dae-jung signed an agreement covering reconciliation and eventual unification, easing of tensions, reunion of divided families, and exchanges in economic, social, cultural and other fields.

The two Koreas technically remain at war nearly half a century after their 1950-1953 war ended in an armed truce.

"This is a new and fresh start toward genuine peace on the Korean peninsula," South Korea's Sun said later at a news conference.

'A truly historic summit'

Ambassador Kishore Mahbubani of Singapore, one of a number of speakers before the resolution was adopted, told the Assembly: "What we are witnessing today is a truly historic moment."

"Few could have predicted as recently as 12 months ago that both the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea would be jointly tabling an agenda item and a resolution for adoption by consensus," he said.

Tuesday's Assembly resolution encouraged the two Koreas to "continue to implement fully and in good faith the joint declaration and other agreements reached between the two sides," thereby consolidating peace on the Korean peninsula and laying a solid foundation for reunification.

Sun said reunification was important for Koreans, adding: "The Korean people cannot give up their long-cherished aspiration for reunification of the land."

But he said there were several stages before it could occur, including cooperation, proving they could co-exist peacefully while experiencing mutual prosperity.

"How many years it will take, I don't know. Nobody knows," Sun said.

Tuesday's resolution invited U.N. members to "support and assist, as appropriate" the nations in their joint goals.

The resolution's preamble recognised that the "historic meeting" in June and the leaders' joint declaration "represent a major breakthrough in inter-Korean relations and in realising eventual peaceful reunification."

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