"Spirit of the June 15 Joint Declaration" is Alive and Well

Here is the photo op that President Roh has poured billions of South Korean tax payers money into securing:

Is it just me or is Roh the only enthused about this moment?

Now that the summit is over we can now begin to take stock of the damage done. A joint declaration has been issued from the summit and here is the preamble to this declaration:

During the summit meetings and talks, the two leaders reaffirmed the spirit of the June 15 Joint Declaration and candidly discussed agenda concerning advancement of inter-Korean relations, the realization of peace and common prosperity, and the unification of the Korean peninsula.

“Spirit of the June 15 Joint Declaration”? So if this agreement is to be implemented with the spirit of the June 15 joint declaration after the first inter-Korean summit between Kim Dae-jung and Kim Jong-il than I suspect that means we can expect more of the following: the murdering of South Korean sailors, shootouts on the DMZ, missiles fired at Japan, nuclear brinkmanship, the growth of North Korean gulags simultaneously with the creation of more slave labor camps, the continued exodus of North Korean citizens to China fleeing the abhorrent human rights conditions, the growth of North Korean sex slaves in China, among a host of other belligerent activities from North Korea which the South prefers to pretend doesn’t exist.

While the belligerence continues the aid and money continues to flow one way and that is north as the Roh Moo-hyun regime has decided to fund North Korea with more money than he funds the US-ROK alliance. All this aid in return for nothing is all legitimized because it is all in the “Spirit of the June 15 Joint Declaration”. This is success that only somebody like Bill Richardson could be proud of. This all sounds strangely similar to the all the “Spirit of the Alliance” talk you here from South Korea. I’m sure it will all have similar results.

Anyway here is the complete declaration announcement from the summit with my comments of course:

1. The South and the North adhere to and implement the June 15 Joint Declaration.

The South and the North resolve the problem of unification through “the spirit of our own initiative,” and through the primacy of Korean people’s dignity and interests.
The South and the North explore measures to commemorate the day of June 15 as a commitment to the June 15th Joint Declaration.

As you read through this it will make more sense if you substitute every time you hear “Korean people” with Kim Jong-il, thus the above paragraph translates to “Kim Jong-il’s dignity and interests”. See it is easier to understand this way.

2. The South and the North transcend differences in ideology and institutions, thereby transforming inter-Korean relations into one of mutual respect and trust.

The South and the North do not interfere in the internal affairs and resolve issues of inter-Korean relations on the principles of reconciliation, cooperation, and unification.

In other words keep the money flowing and don’t pay attention to the gulags. Now I wonder if Hanchongryun and the North Korean fifth column in South Korea will get the memo to not interfere with internal affairs?

The South and the North develop inter-Korean relations toward the direction of unification and adjust necessary legal institutional apparatus respectively.

The South and the North actively seek dialogue and contacts in all fields including parliament, in order to address issues relating to the expansion and development of inter-Korean relations according to the wishes of the Korean people.

This part means that South Korea should do away with the National Security Law so the North Korean “contacts” will have an easier time integrating with the South Korean government.

3. The South and the North closely cooperate in order to terminate military hostilities, ease tension and ensure peace on the Korean peninsula.

The South and the North do not take a hostile stance, reduce military tension, and resolve issues of conflict through dialogue and negotiation.

The South and the North oppose any form of war on the Korean peninsula and firmly comply with the obligations of non-aggression.

The South and the North designate a common fishery zone in order to prevent accidental clashes in the West Sea. The sides will hold joint Defense Ministers’ talks in Pyongyang November this year in order to discuss military confidence-building measures, including methods to foster the aforementioned zone into a zone of peace, as well as military assurance measures for various cooperative projects.

This all translates to North Korea will play nice as long as South Korea keeps sending money and gives them what they want like surrendering the NLL. Anything other than that will be interpreted to be a “hostile stance” by North Korea thus making it possible to withdraw from the agreement. Of course this will be done only after South Korea surrenders the NLL.

4. The South and the North share a view to terminate the existing armistice regime and to build a permanent peace regime, and cooperate to pursue issues related to declaring the end of the Korean War by holding on the Korean Peninsula, three or four party summits of directly-related sides.

The South and the North jointly endeavor to smoothly implement the June 19 Joint Declaration and February 13 Agreement of the Six party talks in order to resolve the nuclear problem on the Korean peninsula.

This is a ploy to drive a wedge between the United States and Japan. North Korea’s negotiating power in the six party talks is limited by Japan’s insistence on North Korea accounting for the Japanese citizens kidnapped by North Korea over the years. North Korea knows the Bush administration is desperate for a deal but the Japanese keep moderating the US stance because of the abductee issue. By getting rid of Japan both sides can avoid talking about the Japanese abductee issue. Christopher Hill is probably gidee about this.

5. The South and the North actively promote, expand and develop economic cooperation projects for balanced development of national economy and common prosperity on the principles of common interest and prosperity.

This is simply as interpreted as meaning more slave labor camps for the “common interest and prosperity” of Kim Jong-il.

The South and the North develop exchanges and cooperation in the fields of history, linguistics, education, science and technology, culture and arts, and sports in order to cherish the long history and proud culture of the Korean people.

The South and the North implement the Baekdoo Mountain tour and establish a direct Baekdoo Mountain-Seoul air route.

The South and the North will send inter-Korea cheer teams to the 2008 Beijing International Olympics via the Seoul-Shineuijoo railway for the first time.

Baektu Mountain tour will just be another Kim Jong-il economic subsidy just like the Kumgang tours. For $80 million a train ride who wouldn’t want the South Korean Olympic team traveling across their country?

7. The South and the North actively promote humanitarian cooperative projects.

The South and the North expand the reunion of separated families and relatives and promote exchange of visual materials.

To this end, both parties will have resident representatives upon the completion of Mount Keumgang Meeting Post and routinely implement the reunion of separated families and relatives. The South and the North actively cooperate under the principle of brotherhood, humanitarianism and mutual assistance in contingencies, including natural disasters.

This simply says that 66 year old grandmas will continue to be responsible for launching rescue operations for kidnapped South Korean citizens. If the rescue operation do not work at least the family can pay North Korea to see them at a family reunion some time.

8. The South and the North strengthen cooperation for the interest of the Korean nation, and rights and interests of overseas Korean nationals in the international arena.
[Korea Times]

Does any sane person think South Korea will do anything for the “rights and interests of overseas Korean nationals” imprisoned as sex slaves and refugees in China? I think this paragraph was intended to mean to fight for the “rights and interests of overseas Korean nationals” working for the Syrian and Iranian ballistic missile and nuclear programs.

Where is Madelline Albright when you need her?

This folks is what is going to bring Peace and Prosperity on the Korean Peninsula. Anyone getting their hopes up yet? I’m not, but at least I’m not paying for it, but I know who is.