SEOUL: Prime Minister Hun Sen of Cambodia stated that the powerfuls are only thinking about themselves and use the Korean Peninsula as a buffer zone in their rivalry and claims. The Prime Minister suggested that for the state to be able to reconcile the nation, it must come from within the ownership of the nation.

Addressing the Council of the World Summit for Peace at the 2022 World Summit on the Korean Peninsula, Prime Minister Hun Sen stated that peace in the Asia-Pacific region and the world as a whole cannot be separated from the security and peace on the Korean Peninsula as the world is interconnected. He described the Korean Peninsula as an important gateway to Asia, not only in terms of civilization but also economic opportunities. Moreover, the effects of the Cold War, that divided the Korean Peninsula, resulted in the Korean people as the victims of powerful politics.

"The powerfuls are selfish and use the Korean Peninsula as a buffer zone in their rivalry and claims," he said.

The Prime Minister suggested that to find peace on the Korean Peninsula, it is necessary to think about overcoming chaos, mistrust, establishing political and diplomatic negotiations, and should do so regularly. He said that pressure alone could not resolve the conflict effectively.

Prime Minister Hun Sen of Cambodia proposed, the "Two States, One Nation, One Peninsula, One People, One Culture" initiative for consideration in rebuilding peace and reunification of the Korean nation.

Prime Minister affirmed this initiative by drawing on the common ground of North and South Korea that there is a common culture, a history of long and proud unity. He also proposed some practical steps to support the unification of the two countries by promoting the transformation of the demilitarized zone (DMZ bordering the two Koreas) into a cultural, safe, and open corridor that connects the two peoples. The two Koreas should further cooperate within the framework of UNESCO to create the necessary conditions for a dialogue based on mutual values and should work together to promote Korean culture together.

"Because war starts in the minds of the people, it is in the minds of the people to build a spirit of peace," he noted.

The Prime Minister believed that this initiative is practical and achievable because it aims to promote cultural exchanges and people-to-people contacts between the two Koreas.

The Prime Minister added: "This initiative is a low fruit that we can easily reach. This initiative is inspired by the Global Peace Federation Mission's mission to promote common values, mutual prosperity, and interdependence as well as common principles of promoting mutual respect and understanding, mutual trust, and mutual benefit for peace and prosperity."

Korea was split in two during the Korean War from 1950 to 1953, which has divided South and North Korea to the present day. Today, despite the two countries signing a 69-year-old ceasefire, peace on the peninsula remains elusive.