6 November 2003 – Recent developments relating to the Korean Peninsula issue have given cause for some optimism that a peaceful solution will be reached, Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas F. Ople said today.

Outlining the reasons for his optimism, the Secretary said that the lines of communication have improved and the signals from the US and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) have been encouraging.

“With the help of concerned states, particularly China, the lines of communication have not only remained open but have also been strengthened.  This is a major diplomatic achievement of China and we continue to support their efforts,” Secretary Ople said.

“In addition, rhetoric has become more reasonable.  The US has come closer to the proposal of the DPRK for security guarantees and the DPRK is now more open to the US offer that such guarantees be multilateral in form.  Initially, positions were far apart and almost irreconcilable.  But today we stand at the brink of a major breakthrough that could mean lasting peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the region,” Secretary Ople said.

The Secretary added that the key remains to be the need for the DPRK to fully abandon its nuclear weapons program, saying, “I would like to reiterate our call for the DPRK to abandon its efforts to develop nuclear weapons.”

The Secretary said that the Philippines, as one of two countries representing Asia in the United Nations Security Council next year, is prepared to deal with the Korean Peninsula issue, should it be taken up by the Security Council.

“We are prepared to discuss this in the Security Council.  Our own national stakes are high.  We have shed blood on the Korean Peninsula.  We have many of our nationals working there.  The stability of our region is less secure in the absence of a solution.  However, we prefer that this matter be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue and not through Security Council action,” the Secretary said.

The DPRK had earlier dismissed the proposal of the US for a multilateral security guarantee.  At that time, the Secretary expressed regret that the DPRK had readily dismissed what many acknowledged as a major concession by the United States and had called on the DPRK to seriously consider the options presented to it, particularly those that have the support of the entire region (DFA Press Release No. 598-03; 23 October 2003).

“I am glad that the DPRK is now a bit more positive in responding to the US proposal,” Secretary Ople said.

The Secretary also welcomed the talks to be held today between the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the DPRK, saying that this is an important confidence building measure.  An ROK delegation has left for the DPRK to pursue talks on reconciliation and economic cooperation. The four-day meeting in Pyongyang will also cover economic cooperation, re-linking cross-border railways severed during the 1950-1953 Korean War and an industrial park under construction in the North's border city of Kaesong.

On reports that an international consortium has postponed a decision on whether to suspend or stop work on light-water nuclear reactors under construction in the DPRK, Secretary Ople said that the Philippines will respect the decision of the consortium but that any future political solution would have to include a formula that would wean the DPRK away from its current reliance on nuclear power plants that could produce weapons-grade materials.  The Philippines has supported the efforts of the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization, or KEDO, which was set up in a 1994 agreement to help the DPRK with its energy needs in exchange for a promise by Pyongyang to freeze all its nuclear programs. END.