DAVAO CITY , Philippines — Saying that peace development in the Korean peninsula is gaining positive results, Korean Ambassador Han Dong-Man has expressed confidence that the on-going peace talks between the North and South Korea would end the 68-year Korean War.
Dong-Man shared this development during his visit at the Ateneo de Davao University last August 23 to attend a one-day Forum on Vision for Peace in the Korean Peninsula and the Philippine-Korea Relations.
During his visit, the Korean ambassador discussed to Panmunjeom Declaration, a historical agreement signed by Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s Kim Jong-un and Moon Jae-in of the Republic of Korea on April 27 during the this year’s inter-Korean Summit.
The Panmunjeom Declaration contains the agreements that both North and South Korea agreed to pursue to end the Korean War.
Dong-Man also cited the purpose of reunifying the North and South Korea. These are: the denuclearization of North Korean, the development of sustainable inter-Korean relations and the realization of a new economic community in the Korea Peninsula.
But he recognized that there’s more things to be done in order to achieve the reunification of both countries.
“The South and North Korea would reconnect the blood relations of the people and they will move forward with prosperity,” Dong-Man said as he read a portion of the Panmunjeom Declaration.
For John Harvey Gamas, chairperson of the International Studies Department of Ateneo de Davao University, reunification of the Korea Peninsula is important.
“The reunification seems impossible, but the insights from the forum gave us hope. It gave us a sense of relief that in the future there will be an agreement for peace in the peninsula,” Gamas said.
PH, South Korea relations
Dong-Man presented the contributions of South Korea to the Philippines, recognizing that Korea is the fourth largest trading partner and is the third highest import source of the Philippines.
Korean private investments such as Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction, the largest shipyard in the archipelago and the upcoming Jalaur River Multi-Purpose Project with a $208 million budget are the country’s key investment players, according to the Korean ambassador.
In 2019, The Philippines and Korea will be celebrating its 70th year of diplomatic relations, he assured South Korea would continue to support the country by way of investments in tourism, education, among others.(davaotoday.com)
