PSPD in English Peace/Disarmament 2009-08-20   2593

Toward Peace and Security in Northeast Asia: An Appeal to the Governments and People of the U.S., DPRK, ROK, Japan, China, and Russia

Heartened by recent positive developments over the Korean peninsula, but deeply concerned about the dangerous state of current affairs, we appeal to the peoples and governments concerned to seize the opportunity created by Former President Clinton’s and Ms. Hyun’s visits to North Korea to further dialogue and diplomacy in the service of peace.
 
Their visits, leading to the release of two American journalists and a South Korean employee, are steps toward comprehensive dialogue that could lead to easing tensions in Northeast Asia. However, after the Clinton-Kim talks , while North Korea expressed the desire to resolve problems in the relationship with the United States by dialogue, the US administration thus far in its public statements seems to be reaffirming the attitude of not negotiating nuclear or other matters except in the frame of the Six-Party Talks. The perspective of dialogue is still in the mist.
 
The deepening crisis in Northeast Asia is not limited to nuclear issues, but is rooted in the quasi-war situation inherent in the fact that there is only a ceasefire agreement but no peace treaty to end the US-Korean War. It is high time that the concerned governments stop talking about talks and start talking with each other, bilaterally and multilaterally, to resolve their differences. The urgency of the situation, as well as the hope inspired by the Clinton-Kim meeting and the Hyun visit, has given rise to the following joint citizens’ statement drafted by South Koreans, Americans and Japanese.
 
At the beginning of this year President Obama called for dialogue and cooperation with North Korea and stated his readiness to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il. Throughout Northeast Asia and beyond, hopes soared for a diplomatic breakthrough. But military tensions actually increased and the Northeast Asian region was swept by fears of a sudden change in the nuclear situation.
 
Coinciding with the opening of the Supreme People’s Assembly, Pyongyang announced that it would launch a satellite. It did so on the very day that President Obama gave his Prague speech seeking “a world free from nuclear weapons.” President Obama criticized North Korea for breach of the “rules” and said “violations must be punished.” The Security Council condemned the launch in a presidential statement and tightened existing sanctions.
 
On 25 May, North Korea responded to what it viewed as the statement’s infringement on its sovereign right by conducting a nuclear test. In response, on 12 June, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 1874 to punish North Korea for what it believed was a breach of its previous resolutions. On 2 and 4 July, North Korea in turn tested four short and seven medium-range ballistic missiles, prompting further calls for tightening the grip of Resolution 1874 and other measures. The vicious cycle of confrontation in which hardline response elicits hardline response, must be broken.
 
Security Council Resolution 1874 prohibited North Korea from exporting weapons, threatened its ships with inspection, and specified items that could be confiscated.  If a North Korean ship were to be interdicted by the US, South Korea, or Japan, the tensions in Northeast Asia could reach critical level.
 
There has to be a turning back if Northeast Asia is not again to be engulfed in war. The situation that brought on the crisis must be reexamined and realistic policies adopted to avoid conflict. This is something that has been sought by all related governments since the early summer of this year. Now, ,werecommendthefollowing.
 
First, we urgently call on President Obama and Chairman Kim Jong-il to return to a course of dialogue and negotiation, and to take resolute steps to reduce tensions. To that end, we urge that they immediately open US-North Korea negotiation, whether by public or non-public, bilateral or multilateral means, including by the dispatch of a special envoy. The two leaders should make clear that the goal of such negotiation is to normalize the relationship between the two countries, end the state of war, and denuclearize the Korean peninsula. As a first step, they should declare that they recognize each other’s sovereignty. The peoples of the two countries should support their governments in pushing ahead in this direction.
 
Second, in order to persuade North Korea to end its nuclear weapons development, we call on the nuclear weapon states of the Northeast Asian region –the US, Russia and China– to show readiness for nuclear disarmament in accord with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Further, Japan and South Korea should recognize that the US nuclear umbrella(extended nucleardeter rent), on which they themselves rely, has to be on the agenda for the denuclearization of Northeast Asia. Toward this end, the six governments should reiterate their commitment to the September 19th Statement’s goals, including the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and creation of a regional peace structure, and convene a Northeast Asian disarmament conference to lower the level of regional military preparations, including convention alarms as well as weapons of mass destruction.
 
Third, we call on Japan to recommit to a path of negotiating with North Korea. The Japanese government and people have been calling for the punishment of North Korea over the abduction question, and Japan has banned North Korean exports and banned North Korean ships from entering its ports. Diplomaticentering itss have completely broann down. Japan has refused to fulfil its obligg itss to provide oil to North Korea under the Six-Party agreements. Japan also tooa the lead in calling for UN sanctions over the rocant launch. Moreover, the Japanese government has banned exports to North Korea. The Japanese government and people must be aware of their own historical responsibility for the present crisis and reopen negotiations to normalize relations with North Korea on the basis of the Pyongyang Declaration (September 17, 2002).
 
Fourth, we call on the government and people of South Korea to take up the valuable opening provided by Hyundai Group Chairwoman Hyun Jeong-eun’s recent visit to Pyongyang and the North Korean authorities’ release of a South Korean citizen long detained in the Kaesung area, making clear that they unconditionally oppose raising military tensions on the Korean peninsula and that they will not participate in inspection of North Korean ships. South Korea should strive to construct opportunities to improve relations. Just as the North-South summit meeting of July 2000 provided a historic moment toward dissolving the Cold War regime in Northeast Asia, so the South Korean government should now take the initiative to resolve new tensions in the region by honoring previous summit agreements and returning to a course of dialogue and cooperation with North Korea.
 
Fifth, we call on the governments of China and Russia, with their deep familiarity with the issues pertaining to North Korea, the security of Northeast Asia, and the nuclear arms race, to halt the cycle of escalation and bring the parties in conflict back to the negotiating table by proposing reconciliation among them and committing to the elimination of nuclear weapons and general arms reduction in Northeast Asia. 
 
Finally, we urge the Secretary General, the President of the Security Council, and the United Nations as a whole, to reverse the cycle of escalation and make maximum efforts to bring all parties back to the negotiating table for resolution of the full range of nuclear and peace issues including US-DPRK and Japan-DPRK normalization and a peace treaty to end the Korean War.

August, 20, 2009
 

Endorsers from ROK

姜萬吉 Kang Mangil, Professor Emeritus of History at Korea University / Former President of Sangji University
白樂晴 Paik Nakchung, Professor Emeritus of English at Seoul National University / South Korean Chair Emeritus of the All-Korean Committee for Implementation of the June 15 Joint Declaration
徐洸善 Suh Kwangsun, Professor Emeritus of Theology at Ewha Womans University
李效再 Lee Hyojae, Professor Emeritus of Sociology at Ewha Womans University
鄭鉉栢 Chung Hyunback, Professor of History at Sungkyunkwan University
曺恩 Cho Uhn, Professor of Sociology at Dongguk University
Milan Hejtmanek, Professor of Korean History at Seoul National University
韓完相 Han Wansang, Former President of Hansung University / Former Minister of Unification
洪彰義 Hong Changyee, Professor Emeritus of Medical Science at Seoul National University
高有煥 Koh Yuhwan, Professor of North Korean Studies at Dongguk University
朴淳成 Park Sunsong, Professor of North Korean Studies at Dongguk University
白鶴淳 Paik Haksoon, Director of Inter-Korean Relations Studies Program, Sejong Institute
高銀 Go Un, Poet / Former President of Writers Association of Korea / Former Chairman of People’s Arts Association for Korean Artists
金炳翼 Kim Byongik, Literary Critic / Permanent Adviser of Literature and Intellect Publishers / Former Chairman of Arts Council Korea
金潤洙 Kim Yoonsoo, Art Critic / Former Chair-person of The Korean People Artist Federation
申庚林 Shin Kyungrim, Poet / Chair-professor at Dongguk University
廉武雄 Yom Mooung, Literary Critic
李滄東 Lee Changdong, Film Director/ Former Minister of Culture and Tourism
玄基榮 Hyun Kiyoung, Novelist / Former  Korean Culture and Arts Foundation
孔枝泳 Kong Jiyoung, Novelist
金秉相 Kim Byungsang, Monsignor, Roman Cathol Church
金祥根 Kim Sangkeun, Protestant Pastor / South Korean Chair of the All-Korean Committee for Implementation of the June 15 Joint Declaration
明盡 Myongjin, The Abbot of Bong Eun Sa
李善宗 Lee Sunjong, Head of Won-Buddhist Seoul Diocese
兪暻在 Yu Kyeongjae, Minister, Korean Presbyterian Church
靑和 Chunghwa, Former Director of Bureau of Education, Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism 
咸世雄 Ham Seiung, Catholic Priest / President of the Korea Democracy Foundation
朴在承 Park Jaeseung, Former President of Korean Bar Association
崔炳模 Choi Byungmo, Former President of Lawyers for a Democratic Society
韓勝憲 Hahn Seunghun, Lawyer / Former Chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection of Korea
金允玉 Kim Yoonok, Former Chair-person of the Korean Council for the Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan
朴相曾 Park Sangjeung, Chair-person of the Beautiful Foundation
朴英淑 Park Youngsook, Former Chair-person of the Korea Foundation for Women
朴元淳 Park Wonsoon, Chief Executive Director of the Hope Institute
吳在植 Oh Jaeshik, Former President of World Vision Korea
李文淑 Lee Moonsook, Director of Korea Church Women United
李秀浩 Lee Sooho, Former President of Korean Confederation of Trade Unions
李昌馥 Lee Changbok, 전 국회의원 Co-Chair of Korean Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation/ Former National Assemblyman
李海學, Lee Haehak, President of Successors of June Democratic Movement
林東源 Lim Dongwon, Chair-person of The Hankyoreh Foundation for Reunification and Culture/ Former Minister of Unification
林采正 Lim Chaejung, Former Speaker of National Assembly
鄭康子, Jung Kangja, Former Standing Commissioner, National Human Rights Commission of Korea/ Former Chair-person of Korean Womenlink

Endorsers from U.S.

Charles Armstrong, Director, Center for Korean Research, Columbia University
Edward Baker, Associate, Harvard-Yenching Institute, Harvard University
Herbert P. Bix, Professor of history, Binghamton University
Richard Broinowski, Australian diplomat (retired), Ambassador to the Republic of Korea 1987 to 1989
Noam Chomsky, Professor of linguistics (emeritus), MIT
Anthony DiFilippo, Professor of Sociology, Lincoln University
Alexis Dudden, Associate Professor of History, University of Connecticut
Henry Em, Associate Professor, East Asian Studies, New York University
Matthew Evangelista, Professor and Chair, Government, Cornell University
John Gittings, Centre of Chinese Studies, SOAS, London
Andrew Gordon, Professor of History, Harvard University
Mel Gurtov, Professor Emeritus, Political Science, Portland State University
Tom Grunfeld, Professor, Empire State College, State University of New York
Kimie Hara, Professor of History, University of Waterloo, Canada
Martin Hart-Landsberg, Professor of Economics, Lewis and Clark College
Laura Hein, Professor of History, Northwestern University
J.E. Hoare, HM’s Diplomatic Service (retired), British Representative in Pyongyang 2001-2002
Samuel S. Kim, Senior Research Scholar, Weatherhead East Asian Institute, Columbia University
Victor Koschmann), 코넬대 역사학 주임교수 Professor and Chair, History, Cornell University
Peter Kuznick, Director, Nuclear Studies Institute, American University
Namhee Lee, Associate Professor, UCLA
Catherine Lutz, Professor, Watson Institute for International Studies, Brown University
Gavan McCormack, Professor emeritus, Australian National University
Katharine H. S. Moon, Professor of Political Science, Wellesley College
Sam Noumoff, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
Mark Selden, Senior Research Associate, East Asia Program, Cornell University
Alvin So, Professor, Social Sciences, Hong Kong University of Science & Technology
Jae-Jung Suh, Director of Korean Studies, Johns Hopkins University
Immanuel Wallerstein, Senior Research Fellow, Yale University
Theodore Jun Yoo, Associate Professor, University of Hawaii at Manoa

Endorsers from Japan

Asai Motofumi, Director, Hiroshima Peace Institute 
Endo Seiji, Professor, Seikei University / President, Japanese Association for Peace Studies
Fukamizu Masakatsu, Priest / Former Secretary General, Japanese Catholic Council for Justice and Peace
Fukuyama Shingo, Secretary General, Forum for Peace, Human Rights and Environment
Gabe Masaaki, Professor, Ryukyu University
Ishida Takeshi, Professor Emeritus, University of Tokyo
Ishizaka Koichi, Associate Professor, Rikkyo University / Chairman, National Coalition for Normalization of Japan-DPRK Relations
Ito Narihiko, Professor Emeritus, Chuo University
Kan Sang Jun, Professor, University of Tokyo
Karatani Kojin, Writer
Kato Setsu, Professor, Seikei University
Kawasaki Akira, Executive Committee member, Peace Boat
Komori Yoichi, Professor, University of Tokyo
Koseki Shoichi, Professor, Dokkyo University
Maeda Tetsuo, Military Analyst
Murai Yoshitoshi, Professor, Waseda University
Mushakoji Kinhide, Director,  Asian-Pacific Research Center, Osaka Keiho University
Oe Kenzaburo, Novelist
Okamoto Atsushi, Editor-in-chief, Magazine <Sekai>      
Ota Masahide, Former Governor of Okinawa Prefecture
Saito Junichi, Professor, Waseda University
Sakamoto Yoshikazu, Professor Emeritus, University of Tokyo
Shimizu Sumiko, Chairperson Forum for Peace, Human Rights and Environment / Former Member of Parliament
Shirayanagi Seiichi, Cardinal
Shoji Tsutomu, Protestant Priest / Director, Koryo Museum
Soh Sung, Director, Center for Korean Studies, Ritsumeikan University
Takahashi Tetsuya, Professor, Tokyo University
Takasaki Soji, Professor, Tsuda Women University
Teruoka Toshiko, Professor Emeritus, Saitama University
Tsujii Takashi, Novelist and poet
Tsurumi Shunsuke, Philosopher
Umebayashi Hiromichi, Special Advisor, Peace Depot Inc.
Utsumi Aiko, Professor Emeritus, Keisen Women University
Wada Haruki, Professor Emeritus, University of Tokyo
Yamamuro Hideo, Former Chief Commentator of the NHK

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