By Prof. Jose Maria Sison
Chairperson
International League of Peoples´ Struggle
June 17, 2018
We, the international League of Peoples´ Struggle, welcome, applaud and support the U.S -DPRK summit on June 12, 2018, on the basis of the Joint Statement and the related positive pronouncements of President Donald J. Trump of the United States of America and Chairman Kim Jong-un of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
Indeed, the summit and the joint statement constitute an epochal event of great significance in overcoming decades of tensions and hostilities between the two countries and in committing themselves to cooperate for the establishment and development of new U.S.-DPRK relations and for the promotion of peace, prosperity, and security of the Korean Peninsula , the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large.
The reference to denuclearization of the Korean peninsula is recurrent in the Joint Statement. The term reminds us all that were it not for the DPRK´s assertion of the Korean people´s sovereign right to self-defense and actual development of nuclear weapons and delivery system capable of reaching the US, Trump would have never accepted the 4 points in the Kim-Trump joint statement and would have continued a gross policy of hostility against the DPRK, consisting of long-term blockade, embargoes, war provocations and economic sanctions.
In fact, Trump still tries to give the impression that the summit was not the result of possible nuclear deterrence by DPRK but the result of superior US military prowess, increased US military intervention, shows of force and economic sanctions. He also obscures the fact that the US has lost all reason to be hostile to DPRK when the people and leaders of north and south Korea manifest their strong desire for cooperation and peaceful reunification and that China and Russia (which are nuclear powers) cannot allow the US to use nuclear weapons or even the worst of conventional weapons to attack the DPRK.
Thus, we are in a situation which is clearly better then before, with the US agreeing to the 4 points of the joint statement. President Trump and Chairman Kim Jong-un commit to implement the stipulations in this joint statement fully and expeditiously and with the pertinent officials of the US and DPRK directed to hold follow-on negotiations in order to implement the outcomes of the U.S.-DPRK summit.
The joint statement is based on a comprehensive, in-depth and serious exchange of views on the issues related to the establishment of new U.S.-DPRK relations and the building of a lasting and robust peace regime on the Korean Peninsula. President Trump categorically committed to provide security guarantees to the DPRK and Chairman Kim reaffirmed his firm and unwavering commitment to complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
On the mutual premise that the establishment of new U.S.-DPRK relations will contribute to the peace and prosperity of the Korean Peninsula and of the world, and that mutual confidence building can promote the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, President Trump and Chairman Kim Jong-un state the following.
- The United States and the DPRK commit to establish new U.S.-DPRK relations in accordance with the desire of the peoples of the two countries for peace and prosperity.
- The United States and the DPRK will join their efforts to build a lasting and stable peace regime on the Korean Peninsula.
- Reaffirming the April 27, 2018 Panmunjom Declaration, the DPRK commits to work toward complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
- The United States and the DPRK commit to recovering POW/MIA remains, including the immediate repatriation of those already identified.
In line with No. 1, we expect that the state of war between the US and DPRK and the economic sanctions against the latter be ended immediately and that the armistice agreement be superceded by a treaty of non-aggression, peace, friendship and cooperation which allows normal diplomatic and economic relations.
In line with No. 2. we expect the US to cooperate with DPRK and south Korea in building a lasting and stable peace regime in the Korean Peninsula, not only by stopping costly and expensive US-led military exercises but by withdrawing US military bases and forces from south Korea.
In line with No. 3, we expect the US to respect the April 27, 2018 Panmunjom Declaration and reciprocate DPRK´s commitment to work toward complete denuclearization by withdrawing US military bases and forces from south Korea because these are instruments of colonialism and perpetuated aggression and facilitate the landing, storage, deployment, targeting and use of US nuclear weapons.
In line with No. 4, we expect that the US and DPRK to accelerate their efforts to recover POW/MIA remains and the immediate reparation of those identified.
We call for the expeditious. simultaneous and full implementation of the abovestated 4 points of the Kim-Trump Joint Statement in order to advance the just cause of peace in the Korean Peninsula, Asia-Pacific region and the whole world.###
