[NOTICE] Korea Report Suspends Publication

 [ NOTICE ]

Korea Report blog is no longer being published (unless for urgent or special updates) as relevant information and resources abound in various social media platforms, but will remain as an archival resource. Thank you for your interest and support through these years. 

With Regards,

HK Suh

Korea Peace Advocacy Days

More than 60 activists from 20 states gathered in DC for Korea peace advocacy days, sponsored by the Korea Peace Network, composed of U.S. peace organizations and Korean American civic organizations — on the day of the US-DPRK Summit in Singapore, a potential breakthrough in relations between the US and North Korea. 

Activists held a day-long conference at the United Methodist Building on June 11,highlighted by a keynote speech by Congressman Ro Khanner. The group held a peace vigil in front of the White House, just few hours before the start of the Summit. Then on June 12, the participants visited the Congress to advocate for the peace process in the Korean Peninsula

Towards Peaceful Settlement in Korea

"Off Ramps to War: Paths to Building Peace with North Korea" conference was held June 13, 2017, at the George Washington University School of International Affairs, Washington, DC,
 discussing various concrete paths towards peaceful settlement and "shared security" in the Korean Peninsular, with former Defense Secretary William Perry, renowned Koreanist Professor Bruce Cumings, veterans for peace, humanitarian NGOs, UN program officer, separated families, scholars, activists, journalists and concerned citizens.

70th Anniversary of Korean Independence/Division Marked

August 15, 2015 marks the 70th anniversary of Korea’s liberation from the Japanese colonialism, and also the 70th anniversary of Korea’s division into two occupying zones that led to a tragic war and divided states, with seemingly perpetual animosities and conflicts.
2015 is also the 62nd anniversary of the signing of the Korean War Armistice, an armistice that has not been replaced with permanent peace treaty that will officially end the Korean War. Without a peace treaty i...n place, occasional military confrontations, spiraling arms race, collective suspicions and hostilities ensue without an end in sight.


On August 15, where numerous events marking the day took place in Korea and overseas, the National Campaign for Peaceful Resolution in Korea also held activities in the DC area (a rally at the White House and a forum at The William Cho Peace Center in Fairfax, VA. The Campaign calls for "the signing of a peace treaty to end the Korean War as a prerequisite first step, and urge the stakeholders and policymakers to engage in negotiations aimed at reduction of tensions that will pave a way for a lasting peace settlement in the Korean Peninsula that includes normalization of relations, nuclear disarmament and conventional arms reduction."

A Debate on U.S. Strategy Towards North Korea

"Testing Intentions: A Debate about US Strategy Towards North Korea," an event sponsored by the National Committee on North Korea, took place at the US Congress building on February 11, 2014, debating whether the U.S. should or should not consider recent North Korea's proposal to begin a moratorium on its nuclear weapon testings if the U.S. and South Korea cancel planned joint military exercises in South Korea.

The "debaters" were Robert Carlin, Visiting Scholar at Stanford University’s Center for International Security and Cooperation; and Bruce Klingner, Senior Research Fellow for Asia at The Heritage Foundation. Both are seasoned Korea experts, with backgrounds in the CIA, the State Department and the Defense Department.

Carlin argued in favor of consideration and engagement with North Korea, as time is running out and North Korea will end up with more and more nuclear weapon arsenal if the current status of stalled negotiations continue. He went further in saying that perhaps it is now a time to recognize North Korea as a nuclear weapon state and negotiate accordingly, as time was lost on resolving North Korea's nuclear weapon development issue. And North Korea is not likely to give up the nuclear card during negotiations for wider peninsula and regional security negotiations. 

Klingner repeated current U.S. stances and reiterated the focus on dismantling of North Korea's nuclear weapon capabilities as a prerequisite for any progress, and opposed considering North Korea's recent proposal as it will legitimize North Korea's nuclear weapon development program. 

Most discussants agreed that the the Obama administration's policy towards North Korea is lacking focus and is in disarray, that concrete steps and actions are needed to amend the deteriorating situation. 

NAKA's 20th Anniversary Event

NAKA (The National Association of Korean Americans, Inc.) celebrated its twenty years of activities on October 25, 2014 at the Tysons Corner Marriott Hotel in Tysons Corner, Virginia. NAKA's dual purpose and activities on political empowerment of Korean Americans and promotion of peaceful settlement in the Korean Peninsula were highlighted and congratulated by distinguished guests, including Frank Jannuzi of the Mansfield Foundation and former South Korea's National Assembly member Lee Chang-Bok.

Major accomplishments of NAKA include the first-ever trilateral meeting (Korea Peace and Security Forum, July 20, 2004) of legislators from the U.S., South Korea and North Korea, at the U.S. Congress; and the New York Conference on Peace and Cooperation in Northeast Asia (March 7-9, 2012,  New York City), a Track II conference co-organized by NAKA, during  heightened tensions in the Korean Peninsula, with government and NGO representatives from the six-party talks nations – the U.S., China, Japan, Russia, South Korea, North Korea -- plus Mongolia and Germany, where then-Senator John Kerry and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger made remarks. 

Other activities include Asia Pacific Americans Candidates' Forum, voter registration drives and voter education; frequent Korea Peace Advocacy Day in the Congress; a part of Support 121 Coalition, promoting the passage of the US House Resolution 121 regarding the WW II "comfort women"/sexual slavery issue.

Mayor Park Won-Soon at the World Bank

Seoul Mayor Park Won-Soon speaking at the World Bank workshop on innovations in urban management and service delivery on September 24, 2014 in Washington, DC. Mayor Park, former human rights lawyer, public policy watchdog leader, and citizen advocacy activist, has implemented new and fresh urban services to needy Seoul citizens using prompt and interactive social media outreach and communication. Mayor Park was in town to renew sister city relationship with Washington, DC.

Calling for Peace in Korea on July 27, 2013

On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Korean War Armistice Agreement on July 27, when the official events in Washington, DC focused on the Korean War veterans, a contingent of peace activists and concerned citizens -- both Koreans and Americans -- came together in D.C. for a series of events to highlight the fact that the Korean War is not officially over since peace treaty was never signed to end the war, leaving the Korean Peninsula in a perpetual state of semi-war that drains manpower, resources and maintains volatile tensions. Similar actions occurred in South Korea as well, demanding signing of peace treaty as a step towards a peaceful resolution in Korea (see below photo).

Korean Peace Activist Denied Entry into the U.S.

Oh Jong-Ryol (photo above), who is the leader of the delegation from a South Korean peace coalition, Citizen's Solidarity for Antiwar Peace Movement, was en route to the U.S. on a public speaking tour. On April 30 at the Tokyo airport while he was changing planes to go to the U.S., he was approached by a staff of the U.S. Embassy in Japan who informed him that he is being denied entry into the U.S. and Mr. Oh had to return to South Korea.

Mr. Oh and three others were planning to travel to the U.S. on a speaking tour to share their messages for a peaceful resolution of the current crisis in the Korean Peninsula. Mr. Oh had visited the U.S. several times before without any incidents or denial of entry. Mr. Oh is a veteran elder activist who has promoted peace and justice in nonviolent ways. There is no reason to deny his visit to the U.S., where public events were planned in New York City, Washington, DC, and Los Angeles with Korean-American and American organizations.

There is no valid reason why Mr. Oh was denied entry into the U.S. this time. Most likely, the South Korean authorities tipped the U.S. authorities about the activists' plans in the U.S., which coincided with the visit by President Park Geun-hye. This kind of maneuvering by South Korean government is like reverting to the authoritarian days of Park's father, dictator Park Chung Hee, when political opponents and activists were blacklisted and denied freedom of speech and movement, and contradicts President Park's promise of openness in governance. This regretable, arbitrary and unjust measure and complicity by the U.S. Government is a violation of Mr. Oh's human rights and affront to democratic ideals and processes.

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.

Protesters on Lee Myung-bak's State Visit to the U.S.

While President Lee Myung-bak of South Korea came to Washington with much fanfare for a state visit, opponents of his policies held a rally during the state dinner; the following is the statement from the rally:

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We have gathered in front of the White House to voice our anger at the South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, whose government has reversed the trend towards democracy, prosperity, peace and social welfare espoused by the two previous administrations of Presidents Kim Dae Jung and Roh Moo-hyun -- and instead pursued policies that are ant-democratic, anti-peace, and anti-citizen welfare.

Instead of promoting the advancement of Korea’s national economy and the general welfare of the people, President Lee has pushed for his personal agenda and enrichment of his family members through favors, governmental contracts, and shady, speculative land investments. His government officials have been mired in corruption scandals.

Moreover, the Lee government has reversed the years of hard-earned democratic gains by restricting the freedoms of press, assembly, expression and is criticized from all sides for practicing autocratic and unilateral approach towards governance. No wonder South Korea is back in the headlines of the Amnesty International reports for cases of human rights abuses.

Also, we ask President Obama and President Lee to pursue more sincere and pro-active approach towards ensuring peace and reunification of Korea by pursuing an engagement policy that aims to resolve contending issues peacefully, rather than resorting to arms buildup and arms race in the Northeast Asia region.

We demand:
-- President Lee to apologize to the Korean people for destroying democratic gains and freedom, and to pursue policies aimed at restoring democratic principles and rights;
-- President Lee to apologize for economic wrongdoings, and to pursue policies of fairness, transparency and justice;
-- President Lee to stop the construction of Jeju Island Naval Base, which will only add to the military buildup and arms race in the Northeast Asia region.
-- Presidents Obama and Lee to pursue engagement policies that aim to achieve a peaceful settlement in the Korean Peninsula.

October 13, 2011
Anti-MB Committee/Korean Americans for Peace

Protests Against Japan's Policies Amidst Korea's Liberation Day Celebrations

In solidarity with former Korean "comfort women" and supporters who have demonstrated in front of the Japanese embassy in Seoul on every Wednesday for the past ten years to demand the Japanese government's acknowledgement and apology of its role in the wartime military sex slave system, activists in the Washington, DC area demonstrated in front of the Japanese embassy in Washington on Wednesday, August 17, 2011.

The following is their statement:

This week, Koreans throughout the globe are commemorating the 66th anniversary of Korea’s Liberation Day (August 15, 1945) from the Japanese colonialism.

The reason why we have gathered in front of the Japanese Embassy today is to show our grave concerns on the Japanese government’s continuing refusal to acknowledge its wartime crimes such as the “comfort women” (military sex slave system) issue.

Unlike the German government, the Japanese government still refuses to come to terms with the ramifications of its wartime crimes, but instead pursues teachings of revisionist history through school textbooks that whitewash its wartime atrocities inflicted on civilians of Korea, China, and other Asian countries.

Moreover, the Japanese government has recently provoked confrontations with Korea with the Dokdo Island dispute, disregarding Korea’s historic and sovereign claim to the islands. Koreans painfully remember that one of the first steps taken by Japan in colonizing Korea was to incorporate the Dokdo Islands as its own territory, as a strategic stepping stone towards its territorial ambitions in Asia.

We demand that:
1. Japanese government fully acknowledge the wartime military sex slave system and apologize to its surviving victims;
2. Japanese government stop using school textbooks that distort wartime history;
3. Japanese government issue public apology regarding its wartime crimes and set up a compensation fund to surviving victims;
4. Japanese government stop disputing Korea’s sovereignty over the Dokdo Islands.

SaSaSe-Washington (Korean Americans for Peace)
Washington Special Committee on the Dokdo Islands

Protesters at the White House Demand Conversion of Korean War Armistice to Peace Treaty

On the 58th anniversary of the signing of the Korean War Armistice on July 21, 2011, protesters -- young and old, Koreans and non-Koreans -- gathered in front of the White House to demand the signing of peace treaty to replace the temporary armistice in place to pave a way to broader peace settlement in the Korean Peninsula and to ensure lasting peace mechanism in Northeast Asia. Prior to the candlelight rally, a workshop focusing on various challenges in Northeast Asia (Korea War Armistice and Jeju naval base controversy, Okinawa base relocation issue, China and the U.S.'s role in the region) took place at the Institute for Policy Studies.

Following is the statement from the candlelight rally.
----------------------------------------------------
Convert the Korean War Armistice to Peace Treaty

As we commemorate the 58th anniversary of the signing of the Korean War Armistice and hold a candlelight vigil in front of the White House in honor of the nameless spirits who sacrificed their lives during and since the Korean War, we also demand a permanent peace settlement on the Korean Peninsula.

On July 27, 1953, the U.S. signed (for the U.N. Command in Korea) an Armistice agreement with China and North Korea to temporarily halt the fighting that claimed 4 million lives and divided 10 million families, pending a formulation of a peace treaty. Despite the desire of people in North and South Korea for peace and reconciliation, no peace treaty has been signed since. Though China has since normalized relations with the U.S. and South Korea, the U.S. has yet to normalize relations with North Korea likewise. Sixty years after the outbreak of the Korean War, the United States continues to have a strong military presence in South Korea including 24 military bases and 28,500 military personnel. We demand that the U.S. move towards signing the peace treaty to officially end the Korean War.

The peace treaty in itself may not be enough to guarantee permanent peace in the peninsula, but it is a first logical step to take, that will aid in mutual confidence-building towards formulating a comprehensive and binding peace settlement. The previous attempts by the two sides of Korea on an inter-Korea peace agreement are good precedents for this process.

The need for a peace treaty is also a part of a larger political issue of not only bringing peace to a divided Korean peninsula but also developing a regional framework that provides a means for resolving conflicts and promoting peace in Northeast Asia. East Asia has historically been considered a dispute-ridden region in which the countries participating in the Six Party Talks (U.S., Russia, China, North Korea, South Korea, and Japan) account for nearly 65 percent of the world’s military spending. With military spending increasing in this region, there is no room for peace in East Asia nor peaceful relations between North and South Korea. We demand the end to arms build-up and arms race in the region.

Sponsors: National Association of Korean Americans (NAKA), Foreign Policy in Focus, SaSaSe-Washington (Korean Americans for Peace)
Co-Sponsors: Washington Peace Center, June 15 Committee for Peace and Reunification (U.S. Committee), Korean American Committee for Democracy and Reunification, SaSaSe-Seattle, Good Friends USA, Network for Okinawans, Nodutdol for Korean Community Development, National Campaign to End the Korean War, World Student Christian Federation of the North American Region, World Student Christian Federation of the Asia-Pacific Region, Veterans for Peace NYC

Events Mark the Second Anniversary of Former Pres. Roh's Death

On the occasion of the second anniversary of the death of former president Roh Moo-hyun of South Korea, memorial events took place in Seoul, Bongha (Roh's hometown), and various cities overseas, including a cultural event in Annandale, Virginia (photo), with participants urging unity of opposition parties in preparation for the elections in 2012 in South Korea.

Anti-Lee Myung-bak Protest in Washington, DC

During the heydays of military dictatorships and authoritarian regimes of South Korea, the Korean embassy in Washington, DC drew steady demonstrations calling for democracy. Now the protests have reappeared, afre many years of absence, as protesters denounced current policies of Pres. Lee Myung-bak on many fronts: 1) erosion of democratic gains by suppressing dissent and public expression; 2) economic slide with deteriorating public welfare and increasing inequities; 3) environmental destruction brought about by the massive "four river project"; 4) mishandling of livestocks' foot-and-mouth disease; and 5) worsening relations with North Korea by negating previous gains on inter-Korea cooperation. The protesters have demanded Lee's resignation and vowed a 100-day relay protest.

Korea Teams at the World Cup

For the first time, both South and North Korean teams are playing in the FIFA World Cup in South Africa. This is South Korea's seventh World Cup foray, and the second one for North Korea since the remarkable run at the 1966 tournament in England. The two teams are playing well, as South Korean team beat Greece 2-0 and North Korea played a close game with Brazil with 2-1 loss. Normally, South Korea would also be cheering for North Korean team as it did before in international sporting events, but recent chill in inter-Korean relations in the aftermath of the Cheonan ship sinking incident has dampened the spirit.

Jung Dae-sae (photo above in red jersey), a player in the North Korean team is changing that. Jung's story is extraordinary. He was born in Japan, has South Korean citizenship, and he plays with North Korea's national team. Though Jung gained South Korean citizenship via his parents, he learned soccer at pro-North Korean school in Japan and fulfilled his dream of playing in North Korea's national team. His brother plays professional soccer in South Korea. Jung's complicated family and personal story reflects the pain of the divided Korea. While seeing Jung cry with emotions at the start of the game with Brazil, Koreans -- both in the South and overseas -- felt the yearning for Korean reunification.

Overseas Koreans Call for Peace in Korea

While alternative views of South Korean government's official report on the Cheonan incident are suppressed in South Korea (in the name of national security), alternative voices from overseas Koreans calling for reduction of tensions are coming to fore. The photo above shows a candlelight protest for peace in front of the White House in Washington, DC on May 30 by a group of concerned Koreans in the U.S., which received many encouragements and support from Internet readers in South Korea. Following is the statement from the protest.

Statement Calling for the Revelation of Truth on the Cheonan Incident and Opposing War in the Korean Peninsula

On this year of the 60th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War, tensions are rising high in the Korean Peninsula amidst fear of a renewed conflict.

Instead of investigating further for truth on the tragic Cheonan warship sinking incident and taking responsibility for a crisis in national security, the Lee Myung-bak government has instead intensified citizen's anxieties on security and are using this incident as a mean to justify current government's policies and to take advantage on the June 2nd local/regional elections.

The inter-Korean peace structure based on reconciliation and cooperation that had been built for the past ten years has now been abrogated. Instead, tension and animosities between the two sides of Korea have intensified through escalating a war crisis mode using people's fear and anxiety on war. The spirit of inter-Korean co-existence and co-prosperity reflected in the June 15 Joint Korea Declaration and October 4 Inter-Korea Summit, has been relegated to the past Cold War era mentality and confrontation.

Here, we have gathered in a peaceful demonstration calling for the revelation of truth on the Cheonan incident and opposing war in the Korean Peninsula. We have gathered at the White House in Washington, DC to demand the Obama administration not to go along with war hysteria in Korea and to help reveal truth on the Cheonan incident. Furthermore, we are protesting the Lee Myung-bak government's Cold War-like policies and political usage of the Cheonan incident for the local elections.

Our Demands:
1. South Korean government should reveal the complete TOD visual record of the Cheonan sinking.
2. South Korean government should release all communication and navigation records of the Cheonan.
3. South Korean government should reveal the complete ship wreck to independent inspectors and allow independent investigations of the incident by experts.
4. North and South Korea should not engage in any military provocation or activity that will impair peace on the Korean Peninsula.
5. The U.S. should stop antagonistic policy towards North Korea based on confrontation and pursue a policy of engagement and co-existence.

May 30, 2010
Washington, DC
Coalition of Concerned Koreans and Organizations in the U.S

Statement of South Korea's Opposition Parties and NGOs on the Current Crisis

Statement on the Current State of Affairs for Peace on the Korean Peninsula
May 26, 2010
Signed by South Korea's 91 Civil Society Groups, 5 Opposition Parties, 104 Individuals

We, Korean civil society, gather here today to resolve the crisis and conflicts caused by the Cheonan warship incident and to take a major step forward toward our goals of democracy, coexistence, and peace. Since the South Korean Cheonan navy warship rather mysteriously sank on Mach 26th, our society has grieved the tragic incident together, tried to clarify the cause, and endeavored to provide comprehensive countermeasures, in order to prevent its recurrence.

However, a handful of governmental and military officials have tightly controlled the relevant information under the guise of “national security” and “military secrets,” thereby obstructing these voluntary acts of concerned citizens who seek to find out the truth about the warship incident. Despite the fact that the Lee Myung bak administration kept warning about coming to a premature conclusion, the Administration released reports that contained a number of unexplained hypotheses, and raised many questions before the necessary investigations were completed.

The investigation was conducted by the self-interested military, which whitewashed its role and should have been reprimanded. In addition, without allowing enough time for the public and the National Assembly to review the investigation, the Lee administration precipitously and unilaterally announced dangerous military, economic and diplomatic countermeasures against North Korea without reaching a national consensus. These are the types of measures that make ineffective the “peaceful crisis-management system,” which has been gradually established since the “July 7 Declaration” by the Roh Tae Woo administration.

Do you think that such impetuous and dogmatic measures by the Lee administration are helping to resolve the situation? Instead, those actions are shaking the very foundation of the peace and prosperity processes, which would secure the future of the Korean Peninsula. Amid the international economic crisis, our economy was, arguably, slowly recovering but now it is faltering again. Efforts like the Six-Party-Talks and the denuclearization of North Korea are patently missing in the Lee administration’s enforcements of military and economic countermeasures against North Korea.

People! Did you witness such military tension when peace and engagement policies were consistently pursued in the past? Now we are at crossroads and need to decide whether to go back to the adventurism of the Cold War era, where the national security issue was abused for power politics and blinded people to the truth. Compare this reckless approach to a future- oriented peaceful realism, which emphasizes the democratic process, checks and balances on the abuses of administrative and military power, and seeks ways for peace and co-existence rather than provocative slogans.

In this regard, we shall express our opinions. First, both North and South Korea should immediately stop the military confrontation, which will bring the Korean Peninsula to a war and economic crisis. The South should withdraw its series of dangerous military measures and economic sanctions against North Korea, which were promulgated and enforced without any public debate, National Assembly discussions, or diplomacy with concerned countries. In addition, the North also should refrain from provocative rhetoric and radical military actions but instead cooperate with a rational process of uncovering the truth about the warship case.

Second, we call on the South Korean government to take additional measures to clarify the facts of the case, which should be able to answer a number of remaining questions regarding the sinking of the Cheonahn warship.Third, both the South Korean government and the media should not manipulate this case to further their vested interests in the upcoming election, which is directly connected to the welfare of the Korean people. The government and the majority party should explain why it was necessary to prematurely release the results of the investigation, as well as to also announce reckless military countermeasures. In addition, we urge the government to immediately stop abusing its immense political and legal powers in order to pressure the voters who only raise rational questions about the government’s report and actions.

We appeal to you!
The crisis on the Korean Peninsula took place without our intentions, but we should be responsible to clarify the real cause and seek ways to resolve this problem in an appropriate way. It is directly related to our future democracy and peace. It is time to call upon your wisdom and courage to achieve peace. At 3pm, on May 29, let us show our will to uncover the truth and accomplish real peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Starting today, each night, let’s begin to light up candles for peace on the Peninsula. On June 2, Election Day, we will judge the current situation of the country and this period with a sense of civic duty and open up the future path toward democracy, co-existence, and peace for ourselves.

Alternative Voices on the Cheonan Incident

As tensions in Korea mount following the South Korean government's report on the Cheonan sinking incident, coverage of alternative viewpoints coming out of South Korean NGOs and citizens (who express doubts and suspicions of the official report), and overseas Koreans and international observers are lacking in the mainstream media. See excerpts from average South Korean citizens, and interviews on CNN (Prof. Han Park of Georgia), Democracy Now (Prof. Bruce Cumings of Illinois) and PBS (Selig Harrison/Balbina Hwang). See also perspectives from a Japanese observer and an American observer, who highlight some of the questions raised by South Korean citizens, and from a US scholar (Selig Harrison) who calls for dialog aimed at reduction of tensions.

Many South Korean NGOs and citizen groups are publicly airing alternative views on the incident and the government's handling of it, as the following statement shows:

Comment on Special Address to the Nation by the ROK President regarding the Cheonan Naval Warship

Peace on the Korean Peninsula cannot be secured by a military buildup and sanctions

May 24th, 2010 (International Women’s day for Peace and Disarmament)
Women Making Peace (Seoul, South Korea)

A series of events regarding the sinking of the Cheonan naval warship shows that peace and security on the Korean Peninsula is facing a serious threat even about 60 years after the Korean War. We express our deep condolences for the deaths of 46 sailors who died as a result of the sinking of a warship and we sincerely hope that this situation will not be repeated. It has been two years and five months since the inauguration of President Myungbak Lee, and during the period we find that the inter-Korean relationship has worsened to the extent of being a “war crises.” Only two years has passed since the leaders of the two Koreas agreed to convert the West Sea into the sea of cooperation and now it has became the “sea of animosity and confrontation.” The governments of the two Koreas should be responsible for the current situation.

The South Korean government’s statement, released today, raises much suspicion in terms of the timing before June 2nd local election and the accuracy of its contents. Furthermore, the South Korean government’s beefing up the military and imposition of sanctions on the North will only heighten the military confrontation and threaten the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula.

First, we show a great concern that the South Korean government changed its military strategy from a defense mode to “proactive deterrence.” This “deterrent” action, through a military build up, will likely lead to a concomitant increase of the North’s military power, and will further aggravate the arms race between the North and South Koreas. In response to the Cheonan incident, the South Korean government announced that “if our territorial waters, airspace or territory are violated, we will immediately exercise our right of self-defense.” It means that South Korean government would use military power if there is North Korean government’s violation, referring to its “self-defense. We believe this action will increase the possibility of armed conflicts on the Korean Peninsula. In the past (i.e. 1998-2007), the inter-Korean West Sea battle did not expanded to a greater scale due to the careful approach of the two Governments not to heighten the tension, as well as their efforts for reconciliation and cooperation. We call on both Governments to take such a peaceful approach this time as well.

Second, the South Korean government’s decision to cease to implement the inter-Korean Maritime Agreement and to stop trade and exchanges will eliminate a buffer in this tense period. Inter-Korean economic cooperation and private exchanges have played an important role in the prevention of increasing tensions on the Korean Peninsula. In the long run, North and South Korea should coexist and cooperate so that they can realize reunification. Economic cooperation should be expanded and the government should not stop, under any circumstances, providing humanitarian assistance, including private aid.

Third, defamation and a vicious circle of revenge only aggravate the crises on the Korean Peninsula and drive the whole country toward a state of war. We strongly believe that the Peace on the Korean Peninsula can be maintained based on the coexistence of both Koreas. Both governments should seek ways to convert the Armistice into a peace region and pursue active dialogue and negotiation. In the process, the West Sea can be turned into the Sea of Peace and cooperation. On May 24th, International Women’s Day for Peace and Disarmament, we, women, express our hope that the Korean Peninsula will become a land of life, peace, and hope and pledge ourselves to make efforts to achieve reconciliation, cooperation, and peace.

Season's Greetings from Korea Report

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