[Joint Statement] Northeast Asian Citizens’ Call for a Peaceful Solution to the Missile Crisis

Joint Statement*

Northeast Asian Citizens’ Call for a Peaceful Solution to the Missile Crisis

We, citizens working for peace in Northeast Asia, express our deep concern over the recent missile tests by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). Though the DPRK claims the tests to be an “exercise of its legitimate right as a sovereign state,” they can only increase military tension on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia, and will provoke a regional arms race. The tests run counter to the commitment to “joint efforts for lasting peace and stability in Northeast Asia” declared in the Joint Statement of the Fourth Round of Six-Party Talks in September 2005. We recognize that US policy regarding the DPRK, including maintained military pressure and a refusal to engage in bilateral talks, contributed to the DPRK’s act of brinkmanship. Pressure or sanctions will not bring about a solution to the nuclear and missile crisis. Only dialogue in good faith can bring a peaceful solution to the current crisis. We call on the governments and peoples in the region as follows:

1. We call upon DPRK to refrain from any further missile launch and make efforts to hold dialogue in good faith with the governments concerned, including at the upcoming North-South Ministerial Talks.

2. We urge the region’s governments to pursue negotiations on the basis of the 2005 Joint Statement of the Six-Party Talks. The US should hold immediate bilateral talks with the DPRK. Japan should continue its talks based on the 2002 Pyongyang Declaration, avoiding mention of possible preemptive strikes or other military responses. The UN Security Council must not focus on punitive measures, but rather on promoting the governmental dialogue and consultation.

3. We call on the governments to bear in mind the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula, exercise restraint, and avoid any action that may further intensify and complicate the situation. We call on all governments concerned not to strengthen the military power on the pretext of the missile launch. Developing and deploying missile defense systems are counterproductive as they can accelerate arms race and increase missile tension in the region.

4. We reiterate our belief that people-to-people mutual support is vital to build peace in the region. Humanitarian support to the DPRK should be continued. We oppose any sanctions that would threaten the lives of the DPRK’s people. We urge the media to refrain from any exaggerated reports on the North Korean threat that promote hostile sentiment among peoples, and encourage it to focus on peoples’ initiatives to end this crisis.

5. We urge the governments of Northeast Asia to take serious steps to develop an inclusive, sub-regional mechanism for consultations on issues of common security concern July 11, 2006

Signatories** (As of July 11, 2006)

AU Pak Kuen (Hong Kong Professional Teachers’ Union, Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China) CHEN Huaifan (Chinese People’s Association for Peace and Disarmament, Beijing) Ya Han CHUANG (Peacetime Foundation of Taiwan, Taipei) ENKHSAIKHAN Jargalsaikhan (Blue Banner, Mongolia) Vadim GAPONENKO (Maritime State University, Vladivostok) JUNG Gyung Lan (Director, Center for Peaceful Future of Korea, Women Making Peace, Seoul) KAWASAKI Akira (Peace Boat, Tokyo) KIM Jeong Soo (Representative, Women Making Peace, Seoul) Anselmo LEE (Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), Bangkok) LEE Mihwa (Secretary General, Nonviolent Peaceforce Corea, Seoul) Kathy MATSUI (Global Citizenship Dept., Seisen University, Tokyo) Gus MICLAT (Initiatives for International Dialogue, Manila) PARK Joon S. (Co-chairperson, Nonviolent Peaceforce Corea, Seoul) PARK Sun Song (People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, Seoul) PARK Sung Yong (Co-chairperson, Nonviolent Peaceforce Corea, Seoul) SASAMOTO Jun (Japanese lawyers International Solidarity Association (JALISA), Tokyo) Philip YANG (Taiwan Security Research Center, National Taiwan University, Taipei) YOSHIOKA Tatsuya (Director, Peace Boat / Northeast Asian Regional Initiator, Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict, Tokyo)

* This statement was initiated by the Northeast Asian network of the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC-NEA) and made open to signatures by all. ** Affiliation in bracket is for identification purpose only.