[Statement] Korea-Japan Civil Society Joint Statement for Global Day of Action on Military Spending
Korea-Japan Civil Society Joint Statement
for Global Day of Action on Military Spending
(15 April 2013, Seoul, Tokyo) We, civil society organizations in South Korea and Japan, jointly express our concerns on expansion of military spending and military buildup. Currently, world’s military spending for a month exceeds a year expense for a development. Most of all, military spending of East-Asia has strikingly increased and the region is becoming a world major weapons market. This is definitely not a phenomenon that should be accepted naturally. Escalating military tension among East-Asian nations threatens our lives and societies. It also forces states to waste limited resources and drive the world into a vicious circle of arms race.
There are many essential priorities for the people including economy, employment, social security, poverty reduction, environmental protection, disaster prevention and immunity measures. These problems cannot be solved by a single nation because of a globalization.
As the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said, “the world is over-armed and peace is underfunded”. Cooperation among states can only control military spending and disarmament for the safety of all human beings without borders.
Therefore, we call on all East-Asian state governments including Korea and Japan as followings:
Nuclear problem in the Korean peninsula must be resolved in a peaceful manner based on a regional cooperation. We urge North Korea to stop provocative speech and behavior. Neighboring nations should not counteract with military action. Immediate dismantle of nuclear armament is demanded to North Korea. At the same time, South Korea and Japan have to improve the policy relying on nuclear deterrence and move together to establish a nuclear-free region.
We call for suspending Missile Defense development and its deployment. Despite of great amount of budget required, Missile Defense is not only ineffective for national security but also unnecessarily encourages military spending competition. The region needs to unite efforts to make Missile disarmament agreement within the region and astronomic development for the purpose of public welfare.
Naval base construction plan at Jeju Island, South Korea should withdraw. Such Naval base implies danger for militarizing the entire East-Asia region.
We demand phase out of US bases in Okinawa, Japan. New military base in Okinawa-hyun must not be allowed.
Peace talk between and/or among states on territorial disputes should be promoted. Each concerned state has to restrain from provocative action.
On 27 July 2013, it marks the 60th anniversary of the Korean Armistice Agreement. We reiterate to convert armistice to peace treaty and build a peace system in the Korean peninsula and furthermore in East-Asia region. Underlying notion of the Article 9 of the Peace Constitution of Japan provides the ground for such regional peace mechanism. We express our deep concerns on recent movement to reform Peace Constitution of Japan.
We people urge to reserve and reinforce various peaceful measures including legislations. It is urged to prevent expansion of defense industry and to cooperate for development and safety of the people from the bottom of hearts.
15 April 2013
Korea-Japan Civil Society
This statement is endorsed by:
<Korea Civil Society>
Imagination for International Solidarity
Korea Reunification Society of Citizen’s Coalition for Economic Justice
The Frontiers
Korean House for International Solidarity
Korea Peace Foundation
Daejeon Women’s Association for Peace
Weapon zero
Nonviolent Peaceforce Corea
Withoutwar
Civil Peace Forum
Jeju Peace Human Rights Center
People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy
Catholic Human Right Committee
Greeting Reunification
Palestine Peace & Solidarity in S. Korea
Peace Network
Women Making Peace
Peace Ground
Peace Museum
PyeongTaek Peace Center
Solidarity for Peace and Reunification of Korea
Korean Women’s Association United
Korea Peacebuilding Institute
Korean Federation for Environment Movement
– Total 24 NGOs
<Japan Civil Society>
Lantern Demonstration Group to Oppose Military Alliance
No! to Nukes and Missile Defense Campaign
Asia-Africa-Latin America Solidarity Committee of Kyoto
Christian Political League of Japan
Society to Give Life to Constitution
Korea NGO Center
Violence Against Women in War Research Action Center
The Article 9 Society Hiroshima
North-east Asia Information Center Hiroshima
Peace Depot
Peace Boat
Peace Link Hiroshima Kure Iwakuni
Friends for Peace
Greens Japan
No to Constitutional Revision Citizens’ Network
– Total 15 NGOs
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