President Roh Tae Woo's Declaration of Non-Nuclear Korean Peninsula Peace Initiatives,
(November 8, 1991)
My fellow Koreans,
This morning, I am going to announce an important decision to help build a durable structure of peace on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia.
In the process of removing the legacies of the Cold War and in efforts to build a world of peace, many courageous and previously unimagined initiatives are being taken around the world today.
Not only have the former adversaries joinde hands but they vow friendship and cooperation for a better future for all mankind. What is more, epoch-making measures are being taken to reduce all weapons of mass destruction, which threaten to destroy human civilization in an instant.
Both the United Sates and the Soviet Union are in the process of reducing and dismantling buclear weapons on a large scale, and international negotiations are currently under way in Geneva to completely eliminate chemical weapons, which could inflict indiscriminate killing on a massive scale.
Looking at these global waves of reconciliation and cooperation, there are those who mistakenly believe that threats of confrontation have disappeared from our own land also. Unfortunately, however, a situation that is unique in the world and is quite inconsistent with the tides of history persists on the Korean Peninsula.
At a time when reduction and destruction of nuclear weapons are being carried out worldwide, North Korea shows no sign of giving up its efforts to build nuclear weapons, while reneging on its professed duties as a signatory to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty. It has been wall documented that North Korea also manufacturcs, and has a stockpile of, chemical-biological weapons.
As is well known, there has been a tragic fratricidal war in Korea and, subsequently, intense military confrontation and arms race ensued on the Korean Peninsula for almost four decades. Under these circumstances, Noth Korea's development of nuclear weapons has to be a matter of grave concern, and it will escalate the Korean question into an entirely new dimension. Indeed, nuclear weapons in North Korean hands would be so dangerous and destabilizing that they would not only threaten the very survival of our nation, but could in an instant shatter the peace in Northeast Asia and the world.
It is for these reasons that the gravely worried international community joins us in our concerted efforts to deter North Korea from developing unclear weapons.
In my address to the United Nations General Assembly last September, I made it clear that I was prepared to discuss with North Korea on the nuclear issues on the Korean Peninsula as soon as North Korea would sign the nuclear safeguards agreement, renounce the development of nuclear weapons, and agree on inter-Korean military confidence-building measures.
And yet, rather than positively respond to my proposals North Korea continues to evade its international duties on account of froundiess charges and excuses.
In an effort to initiate the resolutin of nuclear issues on the Korean Peninsula and in my earnest desire to bring about a durable strure a non-nuclear Korean Peninsula, I declare the following to be our policy :
First, the Republic of Korea will use nuclear energy solely for peaceful purposes, and will not manufacture, possess, store, deploy or use nuclear weapons.
Second, the Republic of Korea will continue to submit to comprehensive international inspection all nuclear-related facilities and materials on its territory in compliance with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and with the nuclear safeguards agreement it has concluded with the International Atomic Energy Agency under the Treaty, and will not possess nuclear fuel reprocessing and enrichment facilities.
Third, the Republic of Korea aspires for a world of peace free of nuclear weapons as well as all weapons of indiscriminate killing ; and we will actively participate in international efforts toward a total elimination of chemical-biological weapons and observe all international agreements thereon.
We will faithfully carry out this non-nuclear, no chemical-biological weapons policy.
Now, there can be no reason or justification for North Korea to develop nuclear weapons or evade international inspection of its nuclear facilities.
I strongly call upon North Korean authorities to immediately take steps corresponding to my declaration today.
Just as the Republic of Korea has done, North Korea also should renounce unequivocally the possession of nuclear reprocessing and enrichment facilities.
As soon as North Korea takes these steps, beginning with the signing of the nuclear safeguards agreement, we will initiate bilateral discussions on other military-security issues, including the unclear issue, and seek to resolve them through South-North High-Level Talks.
Any and all issues pertaining to the Korean Peninsula should be resolved through direct inter-Korean negotiations in a spirit of self-reliance.
Consequently, I call upon North Korea in the name of seventy million fellow Koreans to immediately abandon the attempt to develop nuclear weapons so that together we may open a new era of peace on the Korean Peninsula, having secured a land free of nuclear weapons.
My fellow Koreans,
Prior to the enunciation of our policy today, the Government has very carefully examined its possible impact on the national security. My decision is based on a firm assessment that our national security will continue to remain solid.
It is sincerely hoped that North Korea will accurately evaluate current international realities and decide to join us in our common efforts to eliminate the sources of national tragedy and to achieve national harmony and peaceful unification.