Local Governments and North Korea Should Move Forward Together Toward Peace and Shared Prosperity

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Jung Jun-sung] The National Forum for South-North Exchange and Cooperation among Municipal and Regional Governments, composed of 38 local governments nationwide (Chair: Yeom Tae-young, Mayor of Suwon City, hereinafter the Forum), released a statement on the 22nd on the third anniversary of the April 27 Panmunjom Declaration, emphasizing that all levels of government have engaged in profound reflection on efforts to restore South-North relations, and that local governments and North Korea must unite their forces to move forward toward a future of peace and shared prosperity.

The Forum stated through its position statement, "Though three years have passed and we have not achieved the results that stirred our hearts with such hope, we cannot regard the time filled with repeated expectations and disappointments as wasted. It is with this conviction that we hold hope once again."

The statement continued, "We express unwavering expectations for North Korea's efforts to prevent the course of peace from reversing after the Hanoi talks failed. We also pay tribute to the current government's determination to seek a new path for South-North relations based on the spirit of the Singapore Agreement, which the leaders of North Korea and the United States pledged to uphold, even amid complex domestic and international circumstances aimed at denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and establishment of complete peace."

The Forum did not overlook high expectations regarding direct exchange and cooperation projects between local governments and North Korea, which are being pursued as follow-up measures after the revision of the "Law on South-North Exchange and Cooperation."

The Forum explained that local governments conduct autonomous administration for their citizens, and "if we combine all that our fellow citizens in South and North possess, new opportunities will expand for our businesses and people, as well as for our fellow citizens in the North. When each local government pursues cooperative projects based on its own distinctive characteristics and pools resources, even larger-scale cooperative projects will become possible."

The municipal and regional governments currently participating in the Forum are preparing health and medical cooperation between fellow Koreans to stabilize COVID-19 on the Korean Peninsula, cooperation in the forestry sector in response to strengthened international environmental standards such as carbon credits, and agricultural, fishery, and livestock cooperation projects to strengthen food sovereignty.

Furthermore, the Forum requested active assistance from the central government and the National Assembly so that local governments can strengthen their autonomy in South-North exchange and cooperation projects.

Yeom Tae-young, Chair of the National Forum for South-North Exchange and Cooperation among Municipal and Regional Governments, stated, "Local government cooperation projects will pave the way toward a peaceful Korean Peninsula where all prosper together. In particular, a future of peace and shared prosperity will not come on its own but will bear fruit based on the efforts of the past. We will make efforts to open the closed doors of North Korea wide."

[Full Text of Position Statement]

"Let Us Create New Channels of Peace and Prosperity Through Cooperation Between Local Governments of South and North!"

Time never flows in vain.

Since division, the Korean people have not experienced only confrontation and conflict. From the "July 4 Joint Statement on South-North Relations" in 1972 to the "September 19 Pyongyang Declaration" in 2018, there have been continuous forums for dialogue, with the "April 27 Panmunjom Declaration" at their center.

In the April 27 Panmunjom Declaration, the leaders of South and North agreed to normalize all previous agreements between the two sides and move toward the path of peace and denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Three years have passed, and as a member of our nation, we deeply lament that we have not achieved results matching the hopeful expectations that stirred our hearts.

However, we note that the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the establishment of permanent peace became formal agenda items in the April 27 Panmunjom Declaration between the South and North leaders, leading to subsequent summits between leaders of the South, North, and the United States. Even after the Hanoi talks failed, North Korea's efforts to prevent the course of peace from reversing and President Moon Jae-in and his government's commitment to finding new avenues for South-North relations based on the spirit of the Singapore Agreement continue unchanged.

While South-North relations remain in a temporary stalemate due to complex domestic and international circumstances combined with the COVID-19 pandemic, just as we have steadily elevated the stages of exchange and cooperation amid long-repeating cycles of hope and disappointment over the years, we are confident that the present time is not flowing to waste either.

As we reflect on all these processes, we reaffirm that a future of peace and shared prosperity is fruit borne through arduous efforts. And with the modest yet solid and meaningful strength we possess, we have decided to prepare for South-North cooperation projects centered on local governments.

Local governments conduct autonomous administration for their citizens.

We are representatives of local governments elected by our citizens. Local governments conduct not only affairs delegated by the central and provincial governments but also autonomous administration for their citizens' happy lives.
Through 30 years of local autonomy history, the administrative capacity of local governments has developed remarkably, and independent budget management has become possible. Based on "local ordinances," local governments can conduct projects continuously and stably. Furthermore, if the strength of individual local governments comes together and creates synergy, they can demonstrate capabilities exceeding the sum of their numbers.

Our goal is South-North cooperation projects that "remain unshaken in any circumstance."

Recently, with the revision of the "Law on South-North Exchange and Cooperation," a foundation has been established, however modest, enabling local governments to independently pursue South-North cooperation projects. It is our clear goal for local governments to promote South-North cooperation projects without wavering in light of political, military situations or international circumstances, based on their own judgment and efforts.

We will work to create an environment enabling complete autonomous exchange between local governments, and we are confident we can achieve this. We also anticipate the North's positive response to exchanges between local governments of South and North.

We will do what we can with the strength of local governments.

We are preparing for "health and medical cooperation projects" between South and North. The current COVID situation is not confined to the South alone. It is essential to jointly respond to the global COVID crisis and, furthermore, to conduct South-North health and medical cooperation to open the tightly closed doors of exchange between South and North.

As environmental values increase amid the climate crisis, the development of lush forests is an important task for both South and North. We will prepare concrete and meticulous "forestry cooperation projects" tailored to the scale and characteristics of individual local governments.

We will pursue "agricultural, fishery, and livestock cooperation projects" by leveraging the distinctive strengths of South and North cities. The issue of food has been the most venerable and fundamental topic throughout human history. If cooperation in the agricultural, fishery, and livestock sector achieves effective and eco-friendly increases in production, it will become the most solid foundation for future prosperity of the Korean Peninsula.

Beyond this, we will creatively discover and pursue cooperation projects suited to the capabilities of each local government, such as joint production methods for basic necessities needed in daily life. We will concretize all these cooperation project plans and propose them to North Korea at an appropriate time. Through detailed discussions with North Korea, we will establish the most efficient implementation plans for cooperation projects and are confident they can be carried out through mutual cooperation.

Please join us with warm encouragement.

It is deeply meaningful that the "Law on South-North Exchange and Cooperation," which designates local governments as main actors of South-North exchange and cooperation, has been implemented. To fully realize the legislative intent, an environment must be created where local governments can take the initiative to propose, implement, and bear responsibility for projects. We request active support and assistance from the National Assembly and the government.

South-North cooperation projects centered on local governments will become a new path of South-North exchange undertaken with citizens and, ultimately, will serve as a catalyst to expedite the day of Korean Peninsula peace. Please join us.

April 22, 2021

National Forum for South-North Exchange and Cooperation among Municipal and Regional Governments

Chair Yeom Tae-young, Mayor of Suwon City, Gyeonggi Province; Co-Chair Hwang Myeong-seon, Mayor of Nonsan City, South Chungcheong Province; Co-Chair Jeong Won-o, District Chief of Seongdong-gu, Seoul; Secretary General Kim Byung-nae, District Chief of Nam-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City; (Seoul) Seong Chang-hyeon, District Chief of Yongsan-gu; Ryu Gyeong-gi, District Chief of Jungnang-gu; Yi Dong-jin, District Chief of Dobong-gu; O Seung-rok, District Chief of Nowon-gu; Kim Mi-gyeong, District Chief of Eunpyeong-gu; Yu Dong-gyun, District Chief of Mapo-gu; Park Seong-su, District Chief of Songpa-gu; (Busan) Seo Eun-suk, District Chief of Busanjin-gu; (Incheon) Jang Jeong-min, County Chief of Ongjin County; (Daejeon) Park Jeong-hyeon, District Chief of Daedeok-gu; (Ulsan) Jung Cheon-seok, District Chief of Dong-gu; (Gyeonggi) Yi Jae-jun, Mayor of Goyang City; Baek Gyun-gi, Mayor of Yongin City; Seo Cheol-mo, Mayor of Hwaseong City; Yun Hwa-seop, Mayor of Ansan City; Choi Dae-ho, Mayor of Anyang City; Choi Jong-hwan, Mayor of Paju City; Jeong Ha-young, Mayor of Gimpo City; Park Seung-won, Mayor of Gwangmyeong City; (Gangwon) Yi Jae-su, Mayor of Chuncheon City; Ham Myeong-jun, County Chief of Goseong County; (South Chungcheong) Kim Hong-jang, Mayor of Dangjin City; Park Jeong-hyeon, County Chief of Buyeo County; (South Jeolla) Kwon Oh-bong, Mayor of Yeosu City; Heo Seok, Mayor of Suncheon City; Myeong Hyeon-gwan, County Chief of Haenam County; Sin Woo-chul, County Chief of Wando County; (North Jeolla) Kim Seung-su, Mayor of Jeonju City; Kang Im-jun, Mayor of Gunsan City; Park Jun-bae, Mayor of Gimje City; (South Gyeongsang) Heo Seong-mu, Mayor of Changwon City; Heo Seong-gon, Mayor of Gimhae City; Byeon Gwang-yong, Mayor of Geoje City; Baek Du-hyeon, County Chief of Goseong County