The joint declaration signed by both North and South Korea five years ago should be implemented because it would guarantee "durable peace" on the Korean peninsula, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said on Wednesday - which marks the anniversary date, dpa reported. The declaration was signed in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang by the two governments, calling for continuing dialogue, exchanges and cooperation in all areas, dpa reported. "This is one of the guarantees for durable peace in the peninsula, which I wish to see as a united prosperous and democratic region free of nuclear weapons," Annan said in a statement on the 5th anniversary of the joint declaration. He urged both governments to implement the declaration in full, noting progress already achieved. Annan said he believes "in the eventual reunification of the peninsula through joint efforts of the Korean people and will do his utmost to assist them in attaining this goal with the support of the international community". China-backed North Korea waged a destructive war against South Korea, backed a U.N.-led force, in what was known as the Korean War from 1950 to 1953. The war ended without a peace pact, but in the past decade the two sides have held intermittent negotiations for family reunion and economic exchanges. --SP 2021 Local Time 1721 GMT
