Korean Civil Society and Global NGO Advocate Peace in the Korean Peninsula and around the Globe

On November 30th, a forum entitled ‘Korea Peace Unification Forum’, with the intent to establish peacebuilding measures for the unification of Korea and global peace, was held at the Korean National Assembly Member’s Conference Hall.

During the forum, politicians and NGO representatives gathered to call for strategic unification policies that entailed the incorporation of the collective efforts of civil society activities. Also in attendance were the Ambassadors to Korea from 12 countries including El Salvador, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Poland, and Laos.

While the international society now seeks measures, including economic sanctions, to prevent the recent provocations from North Korea’s nuclear tests, participants at this forum advocated for a long-term, consistent approach to the North Korean issue.

In the panel discussions, it was suggested that the ultimate resolution of the security crisis in East Asia, including the North Korean case, can be achieved to a large degree through the unification of the two Koreas and, in addition, practical ways to induce close partnership between the government and civil society should be introduced.

In the welcoming address, President Tae Ik Chung of the Korean Council of Foreign Relations said, , “North Korea’s different ideology and political system resulted in the development of nuclear weapons as a means to protect its regime after the international situation had turned against it.

Due to North Korea’s nuclear threat, the situation in the Korean peninsula is now at a crisis point more than ever before. We are left with the choice of either a peaceful solution or a military solution. But it is not an easy decision since the military solution to North Korea’s nuclear threat will lead to a full-scale war and will result in the co-destruction of the Korean people.

President Chung continued, “Rather than creating peace through the passive means of just opposing the war, we need to realize an active concept of peace. The ultimate solution for North Korea’s nuclear threat and the North Korean problem is unification. It is now an urgent matter to prepare an active unification policy.”

The Chairman of HWPL proclaimed the tragic reality of war stating, “As a soldier in the infantry division at the frontlines during the Korean War, the words of the dead soldiers and the sounds of the firing of shots during the war even today are still ringing in my ears. We were born in the same world, but I could not see the flowers bloom even once. Politicians cannot compensate for this tragedy.”

HWPL’s Chairman Lee then stated that the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW) can be a solution for both the unification of the two Koreas and global peace. The DPCW that was drafted by HWPL addresses the core principles of conflict resolution and international cooperation for peacebuilding; such as, the respect of international law, peaceful dispute settlement, and spreading a culture of peace.

Chairman Lee called for everyone to become peace messengers to bring peace in Korea and the world proclaiming, “HWPL has made peace agreements with present and former presidents and heads of state, chiefs justices of Supreme courts, university presidents, religious leaders, and the heads of international organizations, and this news has been broadcasted all around the world. The cessation of war and world peace will become a reality because everyone desires for peace rather than war, and we have the answer to peace which is the DPCW.”