According to the declaration, the governments of South Korea (ROK) and North Korea (DPRK) agreed to cooperate on officially ending the Korean War and the Korean conflict, beginning a new era of peace and sharing commitments in ending divisions and confrontation by approaching a new era of national reconciliation, peace, reunification and prosperity and improvements to inter-Korean communication and relations.[1]
After the election in 2022 that brought the conservative president Yoon Suk Yeol to power, the 2018 agreement with the ROK was suspended by the DPRK on November 23, 2023, citing escalating military provocations and plans to deploy military forces along the military demarcation line.[4] South Korea in turn suspended the declaration on June 4, 2024.
Summary
A full translation of the text of the Panmunjom Declaration can be found in Wikisource. Below is a summary of the declaration.
During this momentous period of historical transformation on the Korean Peninsula, reflecting the enduring aspiration of the Korean people for peace, prosperity, and reunification, President Moon Jae-in of the Republic of Korea and Chairman Kim Jong-un of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea held an Inter-Korean Summit Meeting at the 'Peace House' at Panmunjom on April 27, 2018.[5]
The two leaders solemnly declared before the 80 million Korean people and the whole world that there will be no more war in Korea and thus a new era of peace has begun.
1. Promote common prosperity and reunification of Korea through dramatic improvement and development of inter-Korean relations
Continue high-level working-level talks for the full implementation of the agreement
The two leaders agreed, through regular meetings and direct telephone conversations, to hold frequent and candid discussions on issues vital to the nation, to strengthen mutual trust and to jointly endeavor to strengthen the positive momentum towards continuous advancement of inter-Korean relations as well as peace, prosperity and reunification of the Korean Peninsula.
In this context, President Moon Jae-in agreed to visit Pyongyang in the fall of 2018.