PSPD in English Archive 2003-01-31   1127

2003, the Year of Independence and Peace

New Year Statement by the Korean Civil Society

January 13, 2003

New year has dawned on the Korean Peninsula amidst tension and hope. It has already been a half-century since the end of the Korean War, but Korea remains the only divided land the world. Recently, the tension between North Korea and the U.S. over the alleged nuclear weapons development program of the former has drawn the entire peninsula into a renewed crisis, with the possibility of another rising on the horizon.

On the other hand, the hope for change has taken its root and set to gain strength. The momentum of peace and reconciliation between the two Koreas has soared to new levels over the last few years. And the aspiration of the Korean people to avert war and destructive confrontation on the peninsula has risen to new heights.

People of South Korea have clearly articulated, through a series of candle-lit vigils and rallies that erupted in the wake of the deaths of two middle-school girls who were ran over by an U.S. armoured vehicle, the will to establish a new Korea-U.S. relationship based on equality and to oppose militarism and war.

We declare 2003, which marks the 50th year of ceasefire in the Korean War, as a Year of Self-Determination and Peace, and have set our position.

This year should be devoted to laying the new foundation of Korea-U.S. relations based on equality, paved through the punishment of those responsible for the killings of two middle-school girls and the amendment of the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) between the two countries.

The deaths of the two girls last June and the subsequent handling of the case by the Korean government have laid bare the inequality very inherent in Korea-U.S. relations. The U.S. Armed Forces in the Republic of Korea thought fit not to find anyone responsible for the deaths of the two schoolgirls. In reality, their deaths are just one of many similar incidences, which have largely gone “unnoticed” in Korea. All of these cases have been swept aside in a succinct fashion by U.S. military authorities-without even pretence for transparency or fairness-for the comfort of the culprits. The protests that erupted from the Korean people stemmed not from the spur of the momentbut from accumulated anger and frustration, which can only be addressed by fundamental readjustment of Korea-U.S. relations. A comprehensive overhaul of the current Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), which stands in the way of justly handling the girls’s deaths, is a minimum prerequisite towards this end.

We cannot accept “measures for improvement” in the operation of SOFA worked out between the governments of the U.S. and Korea. The “improvements” do not address the fundamental inequality inherent in the treaty, nor can they prevent the recurrence of similar incidents. They fall far short of the demand for a fair and equal Korea-U.S. relations put forward by the Korean people. We shall continue with our peaceful protests until those responsible for the deaths of two schoolgirls are brought to justice, President George W. Bush makes a formal and public apology, and SOFA is revised fundamentally.

We call on the U.S. government and media to address the Korean people’s protests with greater clarity and sincerity. The dismissal of the protests as senseless emotional outbursts or as banal nationalism-as done by some of the government officials and media in Korea-fails to grasp the rising tide of aspiration for peace and sovereignty on the Korean Peninsula. The U.S. government and media need to recognise the just and reasonable demand for redressing the inequality in the Korea-U.S. relationship.

In 2003, the conflict that has escalated over the alleged nuclear weapons development program in North Korea must be dissolved once for all, in a package arrangement, through dialogue and negotiation, to clear away the cloud of war hanging over the Korean Peninsula and usher in a new era of peace on the Korean Peninsula and in northeast Asia.

The Korean Peninsula has, over the last few years, taken important and momentous steps towards historic changes to finally rise out of and put behind the half century of confrontation and hostilities. The historic inter-Korea summits and June 15 Joint Declaration instituted an entirely new framework of reconciliation and cooperation between South and North Koreas, signalling the beginning of the end to hostile inter-Korea relations. They paved the way for the October 12 Joint Communiqu?between North Korea and the U.S. as well as the North Korea-Japan summit meeting, which have given momentum for peace on the Korean Peninsula and in northeast Asia.

Despite considerable changes and progress, the Korean Peninsula is still overshadowed by a serious threat of war. Such threat partly came about because of the Bush Administration’s refusal to engage in dialogue and negotiations with North Korea and its suspension of crude oil supply to North Korea following the suspicion about North Korean nuclear weapons development program. Also, North Korea’s decision to lift the freeze on nuclear facilities and its declaration to withdraw from the Non-proliferation Treaty have rekindled tension between North Korea and the U.S.

In addressing the current crisis, we cannot but point out the inherent dangers of the unilateral foreign policy posture of the Bush administration. The U.S., despite possessing the largest stockpile of nuclear weapons, has consistently resisted nuclear arms reduction and has refused to join the “Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.” It has failed to provide security guarantee towards North Korea contained in the Geneva accord and refused to rule out pre-emptive nuclear attack on North Korea.

The Bush administration has unilaterally turned its back to the achievements made in North Korea-U.S. relations by the preceding Clinton administration, practically nullifying the progress that had been made. At the same time, it has wilfully stood in the way of the efforts of the South Korean government for improvement in inter-Korea relations. It reverted to the hostile posture towards North Korea, defining North Korea as a part of the “Axis of Evil,” setting the scene for the inflammation of tension between the U.S. and North Korea.

In reality, the U.S. still has no clear evidence as to whether North Korea really possesses the nuclear weapons development program. The U.S. is set on unilateral retaliation against North Korea, refusing to engage in any kind of dialogue, which eventually provoked North Korea to lift the freeze on the nuclear facilities.

We are deeply concerned by a series of North Korean measures: the lifting of the freeze on the nuclear facilities in Youngbyun, the expulsion of the IAEA inspectors, and most recently, the declaration of withdrawal from the Non-proliferation Treaty in the midst of the rising suspicion surrounding the uranium enrichment program. The declaration of withdrawal from the NPT, coming at the heal of a new round of efforts by the governments of South Korea and neighbouring countries to prioritise dialogue and to refrain from provocative measures, is most regrettable. Needless to say, North Korean actions are undermining the international good will which has sustained the efforts to enhance dialogue and the very efforts of the Korean people seeking a peaceful resolution to the current problems. We thus call on North Korea to withdraw its decision to leave the NPT regime. The North Korean authorities must realize that the hard-line measures may give rise to an undesirable turn of events, precipitating a war that might break out on the Korean Peninsula.

We call for the “nuclear weapon-free Korean Peninsula” and, as a part of this vision, oppose development, deployment and use of nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula. At the same time, we oppose reliance on war or use of force or economic blockade as means of dealing with any problem. The greatest victims of any war on the Korean Peninsula would be 80 million people living on this land. We shall not, therefore, allow any moves, measures, and consideration for a war that disregards the will of the people. A comprehensive denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula and the resolution of tension between North Korea and the U.S. can only be obtained by negotiations in good faith between the two countries. We call for “unconditional dialogue and simultaneous reciprocal action between North Korea and the U.S. for the peaceful resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue”

We note that there are signs of initial efforts towards dialogue, such as the U.S. government’s indications of its readiness to return to dialogue on this issue and the contacts between a representative of the North Korean authority and Governor Richardson of Texas. We feel there is a room for encouragement, since North Korea has pointed to the possibility of resolution through negotiation and as it expresses a commitment not to pursue nuclear development-despite its withdrawal from the NPT-and shows readiness to subject itself to a verification regime acceptable to the U.S. if the latter terminates its hostile posture and nuclear threat against North Korea. We call on each side to build on these openings to institute a rigorous dialogue and negotiations to bring about a peaceful resolution.

The first step in negotiation should take the form of concession: the U.S. should resume the supply of crude oil, while North Korea should revoke its decisions to lift the freeze on nuclear facilities and to withdraw from the NPT. What should ensue is a package settlement through a comprehensive negotiation. The U.S. should articulate the commitment of non-aggression towards North Korea, conclude on a peace treaty, remove North Korea from the list of nations supporting terrorism, and lift economic sanctions, which sets the framework guarantee for North Korea’s survival and security. In turn, North Korea should institute a clear renouncement of nuclear intentions demonstrated through a verification regime acceptable to the U.S. and the renouncement of its involvement in the development and proliferation of missiles and other weapons of mass destruction.

We call on President Roh Moo-hyun to resolutely stand against any measures of blockade or war that would escalate tension on the Korean Peninsula and to maximise efforts to facilitate dialogue and negotiations between North Korea and the U.S. that can lead to a peaceful and mutually acceptable resolution. We call on the government of South Korea to continue on with economic cooperation and humanitarian support of North Korea plagued by food and energy shortage.

We call on Japan, China, Russia, and the EU as well as all other concerned countries to support the efforts for peaceful resolution of tension between North Korea and the U.S. and to continue with humanitarian support of and economic cooperation with North Korea.

In 2003, all peace-loving and peace-making forces of the world need to build global solidarity to defend the world from unjust wars and threats of wars that are raging in various corners of the world, including Iraq.

We have learned from the war in Afghanistan, which began in the name of a war against terrorism, that a war, in whatever form, is extreme violence against the lives of innocent people.

Another war is looming over the horizon even before the dust of the previous war has settled. Following the September 11 terrorist attacks, the U.S. has embarked on an unprecedented pursuit for unilateral hegemony. The U.S. has singled out the Hussein regime of Iraq as a grave threat against world security and peace, pointing to its possession of weapons of mass destruction and its support for terrorism, and is methodically inching towards a war. Iraq, however, has agreed to comply with the UN Security Council resolution 1441 unconditionally and has allowed UN inspectors to undertake comprehensive weapons inspections. The Iraqi government has also submitted to the UN a voluminous report on the development and possession of weapons of mass destruction. Iraq’s compliance notwithstanding and even before the conclusion of the verification process, the Bush Administration has already ruled that Iraq possesses dangerous weapons of mass destruction in its justification for the war drive.

The Bush Administration has failed to present any concrete evidence of Iraq’s threat against the U.S. or any other country for that matter. Instead, it claims that the Hussein regime possesses weapons of mass destruction and that Hussein must be removed from power. The blind and deaf rush to war against Iraq cannot be explained apart from the U.S.’s own political and economic interests.

We oppose the potential war against Iraq that is being pursed without any justifiable reason. The international society must refuse cooperating with the unilateral U.S. war drive. We call on the Korean government to refuse the requests for financial contribution or military participation. We will work in solidarity with all peace forces in opposing the war against Iraq.

In 2003, let us light candles of solidarity for peace, mutual respect, and co-existence in all parts of the Korean Peninsula and the world.

The candles we had lit last year were symbols of our aspiration for co-existence, mutual respect, equality, and peace. Our anger and protest were not just over the deaths of two schoolgirls, Meeseon and Hyosoon. We know that hundreds, thousands, and even millions of Meeseons and Hyosoons may die in the course of irresponsible military manoeuvres and war. We share the fear, pain, and anger of every concerned citizen of the world. We seek solidarity of all pro-peace forces in our struggle to tackle the reality we find on the Korean Peninsula, and we declare our solidarity with all the people struggling for peace against wars around the world, including those against the hegemonic wars waged by the Bush Administration.

PCGV and Korean NGOs

정부지원금 0%, 회원의 회비로 운영됩니다

참여연대 후원/회원가입


참여연대 NOW

실시간 활동 SNS

텔레그램 채널에 가장 빠르게 게시되고,

더 많은 채널로 소통합니다. 지금 팔로우하세요!