Civil Society’s Declaration against GSOMIA between South Korea and Japan

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Civil Society’s Declaration against GSOMIA between South Korea and Japan

익명 (미확인) 님 | 수, 2016/11/16- 14:48

South Korean Civil Society’s Declaration against the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) between the Government of the Republic of Korea and the Government of Japan

Immediately cease the GSOMIA negotiation

(16 November 2016, Seoul) We, 225 public figures and 113 civil society organisations, call upon Park Geun-hye administration to stop the signing of dogmatic, undemocratic and unpeaceful General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) between the Government of the Republic of Korea and the Government of Japan. Both governments held the first meeting in Tokyo on 1st of November, the second meeting in Seoul on 9th of November, the third meeting in Tokyo on 14th of November and tentatively initialed the GSOMIA. The Park administration has already requested the legislative office for examination in an aim to ratify the GSOMIA within this month. We strongly condemn the government’s undemocratic decision and warn the Government to immediately stop negotiation on the GSOMIA.

We strongly protest against the way how negotiation process has been carried out in an unfair and non-transparent manner. As we all recall, this Agreement was secretly carried out to the point of initialing by Lee Myung-bak administration in 2012 and was ceased due to the strong opposition from the people. People were outraged by the fact that the government pushed ahead with the agreement without consensus from the general public with the power vested and the national assembly as the representative body of the government.

This undemocratic behavior is repeated and getting even worse. The Ministry of National Defense, which is mainly responsible for the GSOMIA has vowed until recently that forming general public consensus is crucial and that the “signing the GSOMIA can only be proceeded with conditions established.” Regardless, the Park Geun-hye administration has disregarded such conditions and without any attempt to reach a general public’ s consensus, it has decided to continue signing the GSOMIA like a military operation.

While South Korean people are angered and shocked by the recent Presidential scandal, the GSOMIA is being enforced. As proved by a million protesting on 12th of November, majority of people are calling for the President’s immediate resignation. As the Park administration has failed to carry out the constitutional responsibility bestowed by the people, it is not qualified to proceed the GSOMNIA. Paradoxically speaking, this GSOMIA negotiation clearly proves that the President must not be involved both in domestic and international affairs.

We are extremely concerned about the negative impact of the GSOMIA. The government has granted indulgence through abruptly settling on the Agreement on ‘comfort women’ to Abe Shinzo administration in Japan, which has been right wing-led and distorted its history of aggression. Signing the GSOMIA will rather encourage Japan’s remilitarization and exercise of collective self-defense. As the most affected victims of Japanese imperialism, we will not accept the government to blindly take such actions.

The GSOMIA will instigate the possible new cold war in Northeast Asia. Republic of Korea is the closest neighboring country to North Korea, an explicit enemy of the US-Japan alliance, and China and Russia, strategic competitor countries of US. The reason for the US-Japan alliance to include South Korea in their military strategy largely lies in geopolitical factor. The Korean Peninsula will be a strategic advantage as battle front and troop as the last resort. The South Korea-US-Japan Military Information Sharing Pact signed in 2014 and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) deployment decision made in this July are in the same context. Such South Korea’s trilateral alliance may raise increasing concern in strengthening the trilateral alliance between North Korea, China and Russia. The result will be a new cold war in Northeast Asia and exacerbation of arms race as well as permanent loss of peace on the Korean Peninsula. As the victim of cold war, we will not allow the re-emergence of a new cold war.

Some may assert that military cooperation with Japan is necessary in a pragmatic approach against the acceleration of North Korea’s missile and nuclear weapon threats. Nevertheless, the GSOMIA for trilateral missile defense system establishment will not assure South Korea’s safety. According to a report published by the US Congress Research Service (CRS) in June, 2013, it is assured that “South Korea might not benefit as much, because it is so close to North Korea that incoming missiles would likely fly on a lower trajectory and could arrive in a matter of minutes.” Considering our reality that we are still under ceasefire, this is a valid criticism.

Military approach like the GSOMIA will clearly not stop North Korea’s nuclear development. This is just expansive reproduction of a failed policy. This will only lead to self-harm result in the Korean Peninsula. This will erupt cold war in Northeast Asia in reality and waste valuable resources that should be utilized for welfare and proliferation of humanity not for military competition.

The cooperation between South Korea-Japan and South Korea-US-Japan should not head in such direction. The objective of cooperation should be focused on peace and the means should be through diplomatic channels. Six-party talks should be resumed as it has been discontinued for about past eight years and relations between North and South Korea, North Korea and the US as well as North Korea and Japan should be resolved.

However, the Park administration has clearly proved that it has no will or capability to do so. It is gradually being disclosed that a shadowy advisor who is at the center of the corruption scandal has exerted extensive influence on domestic and international affairs but the government is still attempting to sign the GSOMIA. '

We will never accept such a historical regression. We can no longer trust the government that has lost ability to realize the seriousness of the issue and the President Park Geun-hye has no credibility, qualification or capability as a leader of this country.

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스펨 사용자 차단 질문

[구두발언] 2015 핵확산금지조약(NPT) 시민사회 구두발언

참여연대 평화군축센터는 뉴욕 유엔 본부에서 열리는 2015 핵확산금지조약 검토회의(NPT Review Conference)에 참가해 시민사회 단체들이 각국 대표부에게 공식적으로 의견을 개진할 수 있는 구두발언 자리에서 아래와 같은 구두발언문을 발표했습니다. (2015년 5월 1일)

영문 구두발언 바로가기 >> http://bit.ly/1AGR3M0

2015 핵확산금지조약 검토회의 (NPT Review Conference)

참여연대 백가윤 간사 시민사회 구두발언

2015년 5월 1일(금)

의장님, 각국 대표님들, 그리고 시민사회 여러분

저는 대한민국 서울에 있는 참여연대 백가윤 간사입니다. 이 발언문은 참여연대와 평화와통일을여는사람들(평통사)가 공동으로 작성하고 전세계 300여명이 넘는 개인들과 100여개가 넘는 단체들이 연명한 공동 선언문을 요약한 것입니다.

참여연대는 현재 한반도에서 지속되고 있는 정전체제에 깊은 우려를 표하며 관련 정부들에게 핵없는 동북아시아를 실현하기 위해 한국 전쟁을 끝낼 것을 촉구합니다.

지난 20여년간 한반도 핵문제를 평화롭게 해결하기 위한 다양한 추가적인 합의가 있었지만 제대로 이행되지 않았습니다. 결과적으로 북한은 3차례의 핵실험을 강행하였습니다. 한반도 핵 위기는, 적어도 어느 일방이 아니라 미국과 북한, 남한과 북한, 주변국과 북한 사이의 누적된 불신에 의해 악화되어 왔다고 볼 수 있습니다. 이는 단순히 한 국가의 문제가 아닙니다. 모든 국가들이 책임을 져야 합니다.

지난 20여년간 미국의 동맹국과 파트너들이 주로 동원해온 압박과 봉쇄, 핵우산과 재래식 군비의 강화 같은 일방적 대북정책 수단들은 북한 핵문제를 둘러싼 갈등의 해결에 전혀 효과적으로 작동하지 않았습니다. 적어도 협상과 대화가 진행되는 동안은 북한의 핵무기 개발이 중단되었습니다. 반면, 적대적인 정책과 제재가 가해지는 동안에는 북한은 핵 능력을 키워갔습니다. 특히 체제 붕괴 혹은 전환 같은 주관적인 기대를 품은 채 대화를 배제하는 정책은 사태를 크게 악화시켰습니다.

북한으로부터 긍정적인 답변을 이끌어내기 위해서는 양쪽 모두가 동의할 수 있는 새로운 형태의 대화, 대담하고도 건설적인 제안이 이뤄져야 합니다. 이 새롭고 포괄적인 해결책은 한반도의 평화 체제 구축, 북미‧북일 관계의 정상화, 그리고 동아시아의 핵위협을 제거하는 것에 바탕을 두어야 합니다.

이에 저희는 다음과 같이 제안합니다.

한반도 핵 위기 해결을 위하여 2005년 9.19합의에 입각한 6자회담을 조속히 재개해야 한다.
정전체제 종식과 새로운 평화협정 체결을 위한 남‧북‧미‧중 등 관련당사국간의 회담을 6자회담과 동시에 혹은 선제적으로 추진해야 한다.
북미, 북일 관계의 포괄적 관계 개선을 위한 양자대화를 6자회담과 동시에 혹은 선제적으로 추진해야 한다.
남과 북은 대화와 협력을 확대하고 주변국은 이를 적극 지원해야 한다.
한반도와 동아시아의 군비경쟁을 촉발하는 미사일 방어 협력을 비롯한 한미일 군사협력/동맹 추진을 중단해야 한다.
동아시아 평화의 보루인 일본 평화헌법을 무력화하는 일본의 집단적 자위권 추구를 허용하지 말아야 한다.
한반도 비핵화 논의는 한반도 혹은 동북아시아 차원의 비핵지대 건설의 전망 속에 이루어져야 한다.
한반도 평화협정 체결과 병행하여 남북이 각각 맺은 상호적대적인 군사동맹을 단계적으로 해소하고, 한반도와 동아시아의 공동안보에 기여하는 호혜적이고 평화적인 관계로 전환해야 한다.

이제는 한국전쟁을 끝내고 핵무기 없는 동북아시아로 한걸음 나아가야 할 때입니다. 우리는 여기 계신 여러분 모두가 핵무기 없는 동북아시아를 만들기 위해 우리의 제안에 동의하고 연의 마음으로 함께 해 주시기를 촉구합니다.

감사합니다.

npt, review conference, 2015, nuclear, korean peninsula

금, 2015/05/01- 14:36

203

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에너지 기후변화, climate change, indc, korea, target, 기후변화, 온실가스, 포스트2020

목, 2015/05/28- 10:52

317

A farmer was knocked unconscious by a police water cannon in Seoul, S. Korea

Mr Baek, who was knocked down by the police water canon while taking part in a demonstration (or “an anti-government demonstration”) in Seoul, has had to undergo brain surgery at Seoul National University hospital. NEWSTAPA report which took place on November 14th.

일, 2015/11/15- 12:53

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Demonstrators’ Fury over government met with water canon

There was a large demonstration of around 130,000 protesters in downtown Seoul on November 14th.

Demonstrators and Police clashed near Gwanghwamoon Plaza around 5pm. Police hit back at protests with water canons. The demonstration continued into the night.

Mr Baek, an elderly protestor was knocked down by the police water cannon while taking part during the demonstration, has since had to undergo brain surgery at Seoul National University hospital.

Subtitle by : Sewol Ferry Worldwide Supporters Translation Team, John Georgie

일, 2015/11/15- 14:34

122

Open Letter to the UN SG on the issue of Comfort Women

11 January 2016

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon
UN Headquarters
405 East 42nd Street
New York, NY 10017
USA

Cc : Zainab Hawa Bangura, UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict
Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Rashida Manjoo, UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women
Pablo de Greiff, UN Special Rapporteur on the Promotion of Truth, Justice, Reparation, and Guarantees of Non-recurrence
H.E. Choi Kyong-lim, President of the UN Human Rights Council
Members of the UN Committee against Torture
Members of the UN Human Rights Committee

Re: Clarification on the UN Secretary-General’s Position on the Recent Republic of Korea-Japan Agreement on Wartime “Comfort Women”

People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD) is a non-governmental organization based in Seoul, the Republic of Korea (ROK) with United Nations(UN) ECOSOC consultative status. We are writing to you today to seek clarification of the Secretary-General's position on the recent ROK-Japan agreement on wartime “comfort women”. We express our concern on your recent congratulatory remarks on the agreement, because we view that the agreement was not made in a way to implement the values and principles put forth by the UN, which has emphasized a victim-centered approach.

In the official statement regarding the recent agreement between the ROK and Japan on issues related to “comfort women” from the ROK which was released on 28 December 2015, you welcomed “that the Governments of Japan and the Republic of Korea have reached an agreement,” and hoped “that the agreement will contribute to improving the bilateral relationship between the two countries.” Following your statement, the ROK President’s Office (Blue House) released a briefing on 1 January 2016, saying that you congratulated President Park Geun-hye, via telephone, on reaching the agreement with Japan, and stated that “history will laud President Park’s courageous decision based on her vision.”

Yet, the latest agreement between the ROK and Japan hardly reflects the wishes of the victims themselves, nor did the process involve any participation by the victims. Lee Yong-soo, one of the few surviving victims of Japan’s wartime sexual slavery policy, harshly criticized the agreement, saying “The agreement does not reflect the views of former ’comfort women’. I will ignore it completely.” Ms. Lee condemned the deal as amounting to “a second death of the victims.” The latest agreement indeed does not incorporate any of the demands which include official apologies, legal reparations, and guarantees of non-recurrence. The victims have consistently put forward these demands since making their past agony public for the first time in 1991. According to the recent agreement, the Japanese government did promise to provide JPY 1 billion (around 8.3 million USD) for a new special fund to be set up for a foundation for the surviving “comfort women”. However, Mr. Fumio Kishida, Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs, made it clear that the money was not legal reparation , and still refuses to recognize Japan’s legal responsibility for wartime sexual slavery. However, the governments of both countries have concluded that the latest agreement will be the “final and irreversible” resolution to the “comfort women” issues, thus inviting mounting criticism from inside and outside the ROK.

We would like to remind you that the latest agreement on “comfort women” does not even satisfy the UN recommendations regarding Japan’s wartime sexual slavery and related issues which were made in the past. Different human rights mechanisms of the UN have condemned the acts of wartime sexual slavery committed by Japan as “crimes against humanity,” and recommended that the Japanese government acknowledge its legal responsibility, make formal reparations to the victims, and prosecute the parties responsible for such crimes. During its review on Japan in July 2014, the UN Human Rights Committee noted that most “comfort women” were recruited by, transported to, and managed at Japanese military bases or agencies working on behalf of the Japanese military through force and coercion, and expressed concerns at the Japanese government’s continued denial that these women were “ever mobilized or migrated by force” (CCPR/C/JPY/CO/6, para 11). In August 2014, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination expressed its concerns that the Japanese government had not recognized nor apologized to “comfort women”, and urged the Japanese government to immediately conclude investigations and bring to justice those responsible for human rights violations (CERD/C/JPN/CO/7-9, para 18).

We would also like to point out that the UN and the international community at large uphold a consistent set of victim-centered principles and standards with respect to the rights of victims of human rights violations.

In February 2005, the UN Commission on Human Rights (now the UN Human Rights Council) adopted “Principles for the protection and promotion of human rights through action to combat impunity” (E/CN.4/2005/102/Add.1), followed by “Basic Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Remedy and Reparation for Victims of Gross Violations of International Human Rights Law and Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law” (A/60/509/Add.1) adopted by the UN General Assembly in December 2005. These two documents endorse the “victim-centered perspective” in international human rights law, and emphasize the victims’ right to justice, right to reparation, and right to know. These documents also stress as essential principles the need to give victims restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, reparation, and redress.

Since its establishment in 2002, the International Criminal Court has also stressed the need for victim participation in all phases of investigation and judicial procedures. “The Chicago Principles on Post-Conflict Justice 2001-2008”, which provide basic guidelines on the handling of atrocities perpetrated under authoritarian rule and amid armed conflicts, also emphasize: “Policies that seek justice for past violations should be victim-centered and should address victims’ rights to remedies and reparations.”

We note with serious concern that your remarks on "welcoming" the recent agreement between the ROK and Japan, and lauding it as a “courageous decision” by the South Korean President are not in line with the human rights principles and positions the UN and the international community have accumulated so far.

We would therefore like to request your response to the following questions to further clarify your position.

1. Do you think that the recent agreement between South Korea and Japan satisfy the UN-emphasized principles of the rights of the victims of human rights violations and properly address war crime legacies and past recommendations made by the UN human rights mechanisms to Japan?

2. According to the briefing issued by the Presidential Blue House of the ROK, you phoned the President of the ROK to discuss the recent agreement. Have you done the same with the Prime Minister of Japan? If so, what exactly was discussed or remarked in the latter conversation? If no such conversation took place with the Prime Minister of Japan, why have you had such a conversation with the President of the ROK and not with the Prime Minister of Japan?

3. The UN Secretary-General is obligated to make efforts to promote human rights in all Member States. Therefore, some argue that the UN Secretary-General should help invalidate the recent agreement between the ROK and Japan that seems to condone war crimes. What do you think of this argument?

4. Is the Secretary-General inclined to urge both the government of the Republic of Korea and Japanese governments to resolve the “comfort women” issues through official apologies, legal reparations, and guarantees of non-recurrence from the Japanese state through processes that are actually based upon victim participation?

We thank you for your reply in advance and look forward to hearing back from you at the earliest possible time. If you have any questions or would like clarification, please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected] or +82 (0)2 723 4250.

Yours sincerely,

Ms. Hyunback Jung
Co-Representative
People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy

comfort women, un, japan, korea

월, 2016/01/11- 10:24

225

[Oral Statement] Consideration of the UPR outcome of ROK

37th Regular Session Human Rights Council

Item 6 : Consideration of the Universal Periodic Review outcome of Republic of Korea

Oral Statement Delivered by Ms. Rosanna Ocampo on Behalf of
South Korean NGO Coalition for the 3rd Cycle of the UPR

Mr President, FORUM-ASIA delivers this statement together with the South Korean NGO Coalition for the 3rd Cycle of the UPR. We appreciate the government of the Republic of Korea’s efforts to engage with civil society in the UPR process. However, we regret that some of our key concerns have been ignored.

Despite deep concerns expressed by numerous states, the Republic of Korea has merely noted recommendations to abolish the death penalty and the National Security Law ; to adopt a comprehensive anti-discrimination law, which also addresses discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity ; and to allow civilian alternative service for conscientious objectors to military service. Furthermore, the government has not accepted recommendations to improve the human rights of migrants and their families.

We welcome the government’s support for recommendations on freedom of expression, and freedom of assembly and peaceful association, including to ratify four ILO core conventions. We welcome its commitment to protect human rights defenders, and to investigate excessive use of state force against human rights defenders and trade union representatives. We also look forward to the adoption of a comprehensive strategy to prevent gender-based violence. However, the government has yet to implement concrete measures on any of these issues.

Civil society in the Republic of Korea calls upon the government to develop a concrete and time-bound implementation plan in consultation with the national human rights institution and civil society organisations. We look forward to further engagement with the government and the international community in following up on UPR recommendations.

Thank you.

Thursday, 15 March 2018

South Korean NGO Coalition for the 3rd Cycle of the UPR

See the video >> Click

un, upr, ROK, korea, 권력감시

목, 2018/03/15- 15:41

135

[GPAAC] [Statement] Welcoming the 2018 Inter-Korean Summit

GPPAC Northeast Asia Statement Welcoming the 2018 Inter-Korean Summit

Supporting new hope for peace on the Korean Peninsula,

towards a peaceful, nuclear-weapons free Northeast Asia

April 28, 2018

The Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC) Northeast Asia, a network of civil society organizations working for peace and dialogue in the region, wholeheartedly congratulates the leaders of the DPRK and the ROK, as well as the Korean people, for the historic achievement of the “Panmunjeom Declaration for Peace, Prosperity and Unification of the Korean Peninsula” issued following the Inter-Korean Summit of April 27, 2018 at the Peace House on the southern side of Korea's Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The Summit contributed to a significant reduction of tensions and indeed avoidance of the catastrophe of a potential nuclear war. Furthermore, it showed the world the true impact of committed leadership and diplomacy, and the direct, personal meeting between the leaders of both Koreas sent a powerful wave of emotion around the world.

The landmark steps of goodwill and promises for action shown on this day mark a historic moment, and the beginning of a “new era of peace” for the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia. A peaceful resolution of the ongoing tensions on the Korean Peninsula, and a shift from the current Armistice regime to a permanent peace regime, is vital for the security not only of both Koreas, but for the Northeast Asia region as a whole. We strongly welcome the declaration to bring a swift end to the war on the Korean Peninsula, and realize a peace treaty, as well as the concrete steps outlined to end hostilities and encourage active cooperation. Concrete steps including the establishment of a joint liaison office, continued high-level dialogue, and active contacts will mark the historic start of this new area.

Reaffirmation of the common goal of attaining a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula through “complete denuclearization” is greatly encouraging. We also share the view that the DPRK's measures to cease nuclear and missile tests are important steps for reducing tensions. We sincerely hope that these developments will be followed by clear commitments for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and for nuclear disarmament by all related parties. Both Koreas could celebrate complete denuclearization by together signing the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. We call on other parties in the region to also do so, as a step towards the future establishment of a Nuclear-Weapon-Free-Zone in Northeast Asia.

The encouragement of more active cooperation in social, economic and cultural fields is also significant, as are the steps outlined regarding practical implementation of previous agreements. We underline the role played by cultural exchange in creating the positive environment for the Inter-Korean Summit. Having organized regional civil society meetings at joint sites such as Mt Kumgang and the Kaesong Industrial Complex, we can directly testify to their significance as symbolic spaces for interaction between people from both Koreas and internationally, as well as for concrete cooperation and the development of joint inter-Korean institutions – important steps towards eventual unification. We therefore welcome commitments to expand such activities, such as on June 15 and other upcoming events. The clear declaration to restart reunions for tragically separated families, and solve humanitarian issues on the peninsula, are also crucial steps forward.

GPPAC Northeast Asia, with members from throughout the region including both Koreas, pledges to continue to do all we can to support diplomacy and the creation of an environment in which the Panmunjeom Declaration, as well as past agreements and future efforts to build peace, can be realized. In 2018, we will continue to convene the Ulaanbaatar Process, our civil society dialogue for regional peace and stability, to complement official processes towards the development of a peaceful, nuclear-free Northeast Asia.

We call upon the international community to undertake all efforts to support the implementation of the Panmunjeom Declaration, as well as previous joint agreements. The success of this Summit should be carried on to the upcoming US-DPRK discussions, which we sincerely hope will conclude with concrete steps towards denuclearization and a peace treaty for the Korean Peninsula. Space should be ensured for all stakeholders, including GPPAC members, civil society, states and the United Nations, to make utmost efforts to build on this success, and work towards the establishment of regional peacebuilding mechanisms for Northeast Asia.

The Summit is a powerful symbol of a process to overcome conflict and achieve peace through shifting from reaction to prevention. We sincerely believe that the realization of peace on the Korean Peninsula will develop into peace for the Northeast Asian region, and in turn contribute to momentum for building peace and security around the world.

>> Download

GPPAC, Summit, korea, Panmunjeom, 권력감시

토, 2018/04/28- 19:40

172

[Statement] PSPD strongly condemns the abrupt withdrawal of the US from the DPRK-US Summit

The dialogue must go on

PSPD strongly condemns the announcement of the abrupt withdrawal of the US from the DPRK-US Summit

On May 24 President Donald Trump of the United States canceled the summit scheduled to take place on June 12 in Singapore with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, shortly after ROK-US summit in Washington DC and North Korea's destruction of its Punggye-ri nuclear test facility. This act is very rude and clearly goes against all the efforts and world’s support for the peace process on the Korean Peninsula. The People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD) strongly condemns the abrupt announcement by the US on its withdrawal from the planned DPRK-US summit and urges the US to return to the summit.

President Donald Trump wrote that he was pulling out of the meeting because of North Korea’s recent “tremendous anger and open hostility.” It was, however, the US who actually provoked North Korea, by mentioning the "Libya Model" and "abandoning nuclear weapons first, compensating afterwards." The hostile communication between DPRK and US is the very reason the DPRK-US summit is necessary.

We, the Korean people, who wholeheartedly welcomed the inter-Korean summit and the Panmunjeom Declaration in April, are now deeply disappointed by the recent ROK-US “Max Thunder” joint military exercise, the cancellation of high-level inter-Korean talks, and the sudden cancellation of the DPRK-US summit. Through the inter-Korean summit, we have affirmed the power of dialogue. We believe that the only realistic way to alleviate the military tension surrounding the Korean Peninsula and to establish permanent peace and denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula is through dialogue and negotiation. The dialogue must go on.

[Statement] See / Download

Korean Version >>

Trump, DPRK, Summit, northkorea, denuclearization, korea, 권력감시

금, 2018/05/25- 20:36

116

[Statement] GPPAC NEA Response to DPRK-US Hanoi Summit Outcome

<div class="xe_content"><h1>GPPAC Northeast Asia Response to</h1> <h1>DPRK-US Hanoi Summit Outcome</h1> <p> </p> <p style="text-align:right;">4 March 2019</p> <p> </p> <p>The second DPRK-US Summit came to an end in the Vietnamese Capital of Hanoi on February 28. It is regretful that this summit did not produce any concrete agreement, and many were disappointed that it did not result in a long-awaited declaration of the end of the Korean War. Yet, GPPAC believes that the Hanoi Summit should not be prematurely judged as a failure. Rather, we must recognise that the path towards realising a peaceful, nuclear-free Korean Peninsula will require a great deal more work, on all levels of society.</p> <p> </p> <p>It is extremely significant that both the DPRK and the United States have clearly expressed their willingness to continue dialogue and negotiations. The Hanoi Summit was one step as part of a long-term process. It is vital that the international community focuses not only on the lack of an agreement, but rather on the next steps required to further develop constructive dialogue. We encourage not only the DPRK and the US, but also other regional actors including China, Japan, Russia and the Republic of Korea, to play an active role in supporting this process, ensuring that talks will continue. These efforts should also include discussion on a concrete roadmap and timeframe, recognising the increased role of both nuclear umbrella and non-nuclear-weapon states, and include sincere consideration of possible multilateral frameworks.</p> <p> </p> <p>Importantly, this broad support for the Korea peace process must also include the involvement of civil society. As a global network of peacebuilding organisations, GPPAC pledges to work together with its members in both Koreas as well as around the world to promote dialogue and cooperation for the Korean Peninsula. Concretely, we will continue this through the regular convening of the Ulaanbaatar Process, with participation of regional civil society and experts. This is vital not only for the Korean Peninsula, but also as steps towards the establishment of regional mechanisms for sustainable peace and denuclearisation in the broader Northeast Asian region.</p> <p> </p> <p>>> Download</p> <p> </p> <p> </p></div>

US, DPRK, Summit, Northeast Asia, korea, korean peninsula, hanoisummit, 권력감시

월, 2019/03/04- 00:19

Journey for Peace in 2022 : Korea Peace Appeal Campaign

Journey for Peace in 2022

Shining moments of the Korea Peace Appeal Campaign in 2022

“There is no way to peace. Peace is the way.”

Now, the moments that we’ve worked to make peace here.
We gathered the main activities of the Korea Peace Appeal Campaign in 2022.
Thank you for being with us this year.

2023 marks the 70th anniversary of the Korean War Armistice.
It’s time to cheer up to ease military tension and open the road to peace.

The world doesn’t get better on its own.
If we don’t say peace,
Peace is not coming.

Let’s make hope of peace together!

Signature Campaign to End the Korean War
Sign the Korean Peace Appeal Now
endthekoreanwar.net

The post Journey for Peace in 2022 : Korea Peace Appeal Campaign appeared first on 참여연대.

Peace/Disarmament, PSPD in English, korea, koreanwar, peace

금, 2023/01/06- 18:48

⭐️ Fresh Start of the Korea Peace Appeal Campaign

20230214_정전 70년 한반도 평화행동 출범대회 — 2023.02.14 Korea Peace Appeal Campaign

End The Korean War, Let Us Peace!

Tuesday, 14 February, 2023, Korea Press Foundation

As 2023 marks the 70th anniversary of the Korean War Armistice, the <South Korean Committee on June 15th Joint Declaration> and the <Korea Peace Appeal Campaign> launched a new project <Korea Peace Action for the 70th Anniversary of the Armistice>. A press conference was held where many religious and civil society representatives, who have been endeavoring for peace in the Korean Peninsula, participated and gathered eager to rebuild hope of peace over the threat of war. 735 organizations nationwide are a part of the <Korea Peace Appeal Campaign>.

Our main goal is to resolve the threat of war and build peace. As a joint civil society, we plan to continue the signature campaign but more intensively, and organize other various peace actions. The <Korea Peace Appeal Campaign> will warn the danger of the present crisis, create domestic and foreign public opinions for the peace of the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia, and gather voices of opposition toward the recent rapid promotions of the military cooperation between South Korea, the US, and Japan. This year we will be manifesting the following actions:

Korea Peace Appeal Signature Campaign
Actions urging suspension of the ROK-US Combined Military Exercises and ROK-US-Japan Military Cooperation
Korea peace actions in 300 cities worldwide comprising 100 overseas (June-July)
Saturday, 22 July 2023, Massive Peace Rally and Parade
Thursday, 27 July 2023, International Conference
15 August 2023 (TBD), Massive Peace Rally

Korea Peace Action for the 70th Anniversary of the Armistice Declaration

Let’s resolve the threat of war and build peace in the Korean Peninsula

70 long years have passed since the roar of gunfire coming from the three-year war in Korea stopped. The past 70 years were certainly not a peaceful period but a temporary ceasefire. Due to the fear and anxiety that the war could outbreak any time soon, the neverending hostility and military tension, and the internal and external challenges leveraging and goading these unstable conditions, everyone living on the Korean Peninsula had to cope with the immense pain and expense.

When the South and North Korean Leaders, and the North Korean and US leaders discussed a transfer to a new relationship at the Panmunjom Declaration of 27 April, the Pyongyang Joint Declaration of 19 September, the Singapore Joint Statement of 12 June, the Korean people saw a single thread of hope that the tension and danger of war, which had been crushing us, would disappear and a peacefully coexisting future unlock. Despite the North-South and North-US Agreement, dialogues were adjourned on account of the different views on corresponding measures, and as the power-to-power confrontations intensify, the present Korean Peninsula is falling into great despair. We are not even sure if the unstable ceasefire will be maintained. A sense of crisis that there is no guarantee an accidental collision could turn into a terrible disaster from a nuclear war is oppressing every life and existence on this land.

No methods of dialogue are left between the North-South and North-US. Moreover, the global environment is restraining us. Amidst the Russia-Ukraine war and the US-China conflict, the possibility of Korea being used as a proxy battlefield for international-level military tensions and new Cold War confrontations is greater than ever. However, there is no sound of a practical and active solution to ease tension, prevent armed conflict, or create dialogue conditions.

The government of Yoon Suk Yeol clarified ‘Peace through Strength’ and massively expanded the scale of military exercise, propagandizing that military force can beget surrender. However, this has only aggravated the danger of military clashes in Korea. By stating the practicality of extended deterrence against nuclear and missile threats of North Korea, the Yoon Suk Yeol government has been justifying that we jump on the United States’ strategy against China and South Korea to be subordinated to the ROK-US-Japan military cooperation system. However, the danger of a nuclear arms race and nuclear war around the Korean Peninsula is proliferating. The result of pressure through power is merely the repetition of North Korea’s advancement in nuclear power and mutual armed protests. The only thing the Yoon Suk Yeol government proved so far is that they have no practical method nor capability to manage the crisis and bring peace.

We still have time to prevent conflict and disintegration. We also have a chance for dialogue and negotiation. The reason things got worse is that even after agreeing to a new relationship, the government hesitated to take corresponding measures to build trust, such as suspending the ROK-US joint military exercises, not the insufficiency of armed protest. We must stop the outbursts of armed protests. We must open the door to peace through bolder and more flexible confidence-building measures and pre-emptive easing of tensions. We must act to build peace. The more difficult it is to talk about peace, the more we must gather willingness toward peace from all social standings and reverberate the voice of people who demand peace.

As we launch the <Korea Peace Action for the 70th Anniversary of the Armistice>, we call for the following. We call for stopping hostilities. We call for immediate and faithful action to improve relations as agreed by two Koreas and North Korea and the US. We call for an end to a 70-year-old unstable ceasefire and an agreement on the peace treaty. We call for a Korean Peninsula and a world without nuclear weapons and nuclear threats. We call for restoring trust and resolving conflicts through dialogue and cooperation, not sanctions and military threats. Particularly, we call for a halt in the large-scale ROK-US combined military exercise and opening the way for dialogue toward peace. We call for stopping military cooperation between South Korea, the US, and Japan, which will lead to a new Cold War confrontation, and instead creating an order of cooperation in which the Korean Peninsula and Asia coexist peacefully. Please, we do not call for a destructive arms race, but we call for the safety of people and cooperation to overcome the climate crisis.

We will act. We will take action in the 1 million signature campaign for the Korea Peace Appeal. We will continue the peace declaration and solidarity of people from all social standings in many parts of the world, including 200 cities in Korea and 100 cities in overseas, in the online and offline space. We will work hard to stop ROK-US joint military exercises and military cooperation between South Korea, the US, and Japan, which are escalating tensions and confrontations on the Korean Peninsula and Asia. Marking the 70th anniversary of the Korean War Armistice in July this year, we will focus our actions so that the nation calling for peace on the Korean Peninsula and the voices of peace forces from all around the world can resonate all over the Korean Peninsula and the whole world.

If we seek peace, we can open the way to peace.

We decide our future.

Join us in the <Korea Peace Appeal Campaign>.

14 February 2023

From all Korea Peace Appeal Campaign organizations (total of 735)

Signature Campaign to End the Korean War
Sign the Korea Peace Appeal Now
endthekoreanwar.net

The post ⭐️ Fresh Start of the Korea Peace Appeal Campaign appeared first on 참여연대.

Peace/Disarmament, PSPD in English, korea, peace, War

금, 2023/03/03- 16:30

Korea Peace Appeal International Partners Meeting

Korea Peace Appeal Campaign International Partners Meeting

70 years of the Korean War Armistice,
Let’s Build Peace Together!

Korea Peace Appeal has scheduled a Zoom meeting for international partners.

Military tension on the Korean peninsula is elevating amid the never-ending ceasefire. The risk of an accidental armed conflict is very high. The prospect of peace on the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia is not so bright. There is a desperate need for voices calling for peace.

Marking the 70th anniversary of the Korean War Armistice this year, the Korea Peace Appeal Campaign has launched a new project <Korea Peace Action for the 70 years of the Korean War Armistice>. We plan to continue the Korea Peace Appeal signature campaign but more intensively, and organize various peace actions all over the world.

We aim to share awareness of the current situation and introduce our plan for 2023 and discuss ideas and opinions on building peace on the Korean Peninsula through the meeting.

Please join us in building peace together!

Program

Presentation : Current Crisis on the Korean Peninsula
– Jae-Jung Suh (Professor for Politics and International Relations at International Christian University)
Presentation : 2023 Plan and Introduction for International Participation
– Korea Peace Appeal Campaign
Discussion

We have set two individual sessions considering the time difference. The two sessions will cover the same content! Please register for a session that suits your schedule by clicking on the link beside each session.

1st Session Register
30 March 2023 (Thu) 5pm (PDT) / 8pm (EDT)
31 March (Fri) 9am (KST)

2nd Session Register
31 March 2023 (Fri) 10am (CEST) / 5pm (KST)

Signature Campaign to End the Korean War
Sign the Korea Peace Appeal Now
endthekoreanwar.net

The post Korea Peace Appeal International Partners Meeting appeared first on 참여연대.

Peace/Disarmament, PSPD in English, Armistice, korea, Korea Peace Appeal, Korean War, peace

목, 2023/03/23- 06:56

[Solidarity Message] Japan, Stop Military Buildup! Preserve Peace Constitution!

solidarity message

Solidarity Message to <Anti-War Coalition In Solidarity to Protect Article 9>

People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy(PSPD) has opposed the amendment of peace constitution and rearmament of Japan by Abe administration. We are very concerned about national security bills in a bid to be passed at the National Diet of Japan.

Japan must be prevented from exercising the right of collective self-defense. This will nullify the Japanese peace constitution, particularly article 9, which has served as an anchor of peace in East Asia.

This year is the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII. The memories of the atrocious Japanese colonial rule and aggression in the past in many of its neighboring countries cannot be simply erased.

Japan must stop military buildup and preserve its peace constitution.

We will continue to stand in solidarity with those who are concerned about and marching for peace across Asia-pacific.

Peace & Solidarity

Peace and Disarmament Center, PSPD

call for support

peace constitution, article 9, japan, abe, peace, solidarity

금, 2015/06/12- 21:08

199

[ENG SUB] MY wish is…

This is an English version of “My Wish,” a documentary produced by “Witness” and uploaded on the website of the Korea Center for Investigative Journalism (Newstapa) on Jan. 26, 2016.

Haksoon Kim, who appears in the documentary, was a “comfort women” survivor and made the first testimony as a South Korean comfort woman victim in 1991.

This documentary is a recount of her interview made in July, 1997, five months before her death.

Subtitle by Sewol Ferry Worldwide supporters Translation Team

Korean Version(LINK)

목격자들, comfort women, documentary, English, haksoon kim, japan, KCIJ, sub, testimony, witness, 위안부, 일본군

화, 2016/03/08- 18:51

254

[ENG SUB] Sorrowful Homecoming Part 1

‘comfort women’ victims by the japanese army

This is an English version of “Sorrowful Homecoming” a documentary produced by “Team Witness” and uploaded twice on the website of the Korea Center for Investigative Journalism (Newstapa) on Mar. 2016.

This documentary include testimony as North Korean ‘comfort women’ victim who was raped by japanese military during the japanese colonial Rule.

Mr.Dakashi Ito who is japanese journalist shooted twice in 1999, 2015 when he visited North Korea.

Part 2

Korean Version