NY Conference on Peace & Cooperation in NE Asia

The Conference on Peace and Cooperation in Northeast Asia was held during March 7-9, 2012 at the Millennium UN Plaza Hotel, New York City. This historic event was co-sponsored by: Freidrigh-Ebert-Stiftung, Maxwell School of Syracuse University, National Association of Korean Americans, Center for Peace and Public Integrity at Hanshin University, Pacific Century Institute.

This was a Track II meeting on peace and cooperation in Northeast Asia, with focus on peace and security in the Korean Peninsula, with participants (former and current government ministers and officials, academics, representatives of political parties and civil society organizations) from the six-party talks nations, plus Mongolia and Germany. It concluded with the reaffirmation by all participants for the pursuit of the peace process in the Korean Peninsula that would lead to comprehensive peace and security, and multilateral cooperation in the Northeast Asia region. Notable at this conference was candor in interactions between participants from North Korea and the U.S., inclusion of Mongolia in the regional dialogue, and comparative perspectives of the European security mechanisms and the German reunification experience.

Statement on the US-DPRK Bilateral Talks Results

A Statement from NAKA

The results from the third exploratory round of U.S.-DPRK bilateral talks in Beijing announced today show a sign of improvement and progress towards a peaceful settlement in the Korean Peninsula, as "to improve the atmosphere for dialogue and demonstrate its commitment to denuclearization, the DPRK has agreed to implement a moratorium on long-range missile launches, nuclear tests and nuclear activities at Yongbyon, including uranium enrichment activities" and the U.S. has "agreed to meet with the DPRK to finalize administrative details necessary to move forward with [the] proposed package of 240,000 metric tons of nutritional assistance along with the intensive monitoring required for the delivery of such assistance."

Furthermore, we welcome the following points that came out of the discussions:

The United States reaffirms that it does not have hostile intent toward the DPRK and is prepared to take steps to improve bilateral relationship in the spirit of mutual respect for sovereignty and equality.

The United States reaffirms its commitment to the September 19, 2005 Joint Statement.

The United States recognizes the 1953 Armistice Agreement as the cornerstone of peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

The United States is prepared to take steps to increase people-to-people exchanges, including in the areas of culture, education, and sports.

U.S. sanctions against the DPRK are not targeted against the livelihood of the DPRK people.


The National Association of Korean Americans (NAKA) welcomes this development and urges both parties to implement these measures in earnest, concurrent with other mutual efforts to improve relations and work towards a comprehensive peace settlement in the Korean Peninsula.
February 29, 2012
Washington, DC
The National Association of Korean Americans (NAKA)
www.naka.org

Political Party Realignments in South Korea

As South Korea prepares for the general election (the National Assembly) in April and the all-important presidential election in December, all political parties across the political spectrum have been busy transforming or merging in order to have bigger impact on the elections. On the ruling, conservative side, the Grand National Party, which has been losing popular support (especially to younger generations) due to unpopular and lame-duck President Lee Myung-bak, has been renamed New World Party (Saenoori Dang) and its platform on North Korea somewhat softened from a rigid, confrontational approach. Its chairperson, Park Geun-hae, the daughter of the late dictator Park Chung Hee, has seen her front-runner approval rating slipping lately vis-a-vis the likely opposition presidential candidates.

On the opposition side, the Democratic Party, which has also been losing support due to its limited support base and lack of generational change, has merged with the Citizens Unity Party and members of the Federation of Korean Trade Unions to become the Democratic United Party (Minjoo Tonghap Dang), with former prime minister Han Myeong-sook as its party leader, thus gaining broader appeal and support from the democratic/progressive/reformist and grassroots citizen's groups. The likely presidential candidate from this camp is Moon Jae-in (photo above), the former chief of staff to late President Roh Mu-hyun.

Other progressive parties have merged into United Progressive Party, incorporating the Democratic Labor Party, the People's Participation Party and a faction of the New Progressive Party. However, its proposal to merge with the Democratic United Party did not materialize, thus preventing a fielding of single opposition candidates to the ruling party candidates in the general elections.

Another key figure that may influence the outcome of the presidential election is Ahn Cheol-Soo, an independent figure with no declaration of running for public office but who has garnered immense popular support in polls of favorable presidential candidates.

Another possible dimension impacting this year's elections is the first-time incorporation of absentee ballots from overseas Korean citizens-residents, students and public officials. Despite a large number of possible registrants -- due to difficulties in the registeration process-- the registration level has been low and the process is marred by a possibility of fraud in transporting of ballots and difficulty of monitoring. Indeed, the Korean elections of 2012 will be closely watched -- in Korea and overseas.

Korea Enters 2012

The Korean Peninsula enters 2012 with both sides of Korea in flux. North Korea, with a recent transition of power, will be celebrating the 100th birthday of its founding leader Kim Il Sung in April. South Korea will be holding crucial elections in 2012 -- parliamentary elections in April and presidential election in December, with opposition forces eyeing for a transfer of power. China, Russia, and the US will be holding presidential elections or transfer of power as well.

With these expected changes and infusion of new players, an opportune moment may come in 2012 for a renewed and refreshed start of the peace process in the Korean Peninsula, with amending of relations between the two sides of Korea and a resolution of security issues. Let's hope for the best in 2012.

[Photo by AP: Sun rises in Pyongyang. With the AP now operating a bureau in Pyongyang, news stories and photos abound.]

North Korea After Kim Jong Il

Wild speculations and conjectures abound in the international circles in the aftermath of the death of Chairman Kim Jong Il of North Korea, whereas the transition of power to Kim Jong Un seems to be playing out without any incident. During upcoming uncertainties of the situation, all parties concerned should support a development conducive to fostering peace and reconciliation in the Korean Peninsula.
See alternative analyses: Korea Policy Institute article, interview on Democracy Now!

1000th Continuous Wednesday Protest on "Comfort Women" Issue

Dec. 14, 2011 marked the 1000th "Wednesday Protest" on behalf of the Korean "Comfort Women" victims -- the continuous protest every Wednesday, rain or shine, for the past 19 years in front of the Japanese embassy in Seoul, Korea. The few surviving and aging victims and their support organization (The Korean Council for the Women Drafted for Sexual Slavery by Japan) have been demanding sincere acknowledgement and apology from the Japanese government on this issue, yet no representative of the Japanese embassy has ever come out of its building over these years to acknowledge the protesters.

The silence of the Japanese authorities on this issue will not deter the protesters though, who have vowed to continue on until they pass away, if necessary. As the Japanese and South Korean governments aim to work toward a "future-oriented" relationship, the first task is to acknowledge the past, especially those painful ones that have not been adequately addressed or redressed, like the wartime "comfort women" sexual slavery issue. Solidarity protests occurred worldwide, including in front of the Japanese embassy in Washington, DC.

Photos are scenes from the protest in Seoul, the bottom photo shows former "comfort women" survivors at the "peace memorial" statue that was erected across from the Japanese embassy, with the likeness of young Korean girl who were forced to serve as sex slave for the Japanese military.

Naggomsu -- The Rise of Alternative Media and Political Activism in South Korea

Naggomsu -- the phenomenal podcast (internet radio) team that is all the rage in South Korea these days -- is on the U.S. tour. (The photo is the event on Dec.8 in Washington, DC at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.) Naggomsu is made up of independent journalist, commentator, producer and a former national legislator. Its programs draws the largest audience in Korea as well as being the top downloaded podcast in iTunes.   While it specializes in humorous satire and parody of President Lee Myung-bak and his policies, it relies more on investigative journalism and keen analysis that uncover the ruling government and political party's mis-steps.

This phenomenon is noticeable and extraordinary since the mainstream Korean media has turned conservative due to media consolidations and ownership by pro-government big businesses. The effective and widespread use of alternative media and social media have energized the pro-democracy and opposition movement to a new level. No wonder the South Korean governemnt has announced that it will begin monitoring and potentially censuring expressions aired in the social media.