Tensions on the Korean Peninsula are rising, with some estimating the risk of war to be the highest since the Korean War. All communication channels have been halted, and South and North Korean propaganda leaflets have been circulating for seven months. The Yoon government has maintained a consistent hardline stance, including suspending the September 19 Military Agreement between two Koreas, resuming military exercises along the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), and reinstating loudspeaker broadcasts into the DPRK. With no contingency plan in sight, the risk of armed conflict continues to escalate. Residents of the border area, whose right to a peaceful existence is seriously threatened by the rising military tensions, have expressed pain and anxiety over the unprecedented noise caused by the loudspeaker broadcasts into the ROK in recent days.

In response, the Korea Peace Action held a press conference titled "From War Process to Peace Process! Calling for a Policy Shift of the Yoon Seok-yeol Regime" at 1:30 PM 12 November in the Korea YWCA. The press conference aimed to express concern over the escalating war crisis on the Korean Peninsula, urge the Yoon government to work toward peace, and strongly advocate for a policy shift to resolve the crisis and foster peace.The Korea Peace Action is a coalition of civil society and religious organizations dedicated to resolving the war crisis and building peace on the Korean Peninsula. From 2020 to 2023, it operated under the name "Korea Peace Appeal Campaign to End the Korean War". Currently, 603 domestic religious and civil society organizations, along with 80 international partner organizations, are involved in the initiative.

From War Process to Peace Process!
 We Demand a Policy Shift from the Yoon Seok-yeol Administration

The Korean Peninsula is currently shrouded in an aura of war. The September 19 inter-Korean Military Agreement, which once served as a safety pin to prevent accidental clashes between the two Koreas, has been suspended. Hostilities and military threats on both sides are escalating, without minimum communication channels. The DPRK refers to the relationship as one of "two hostile nations," while the ROK calls the DPRK "the free North." Both sides have made provocative declarations—vowing to "wage war" or "pre-emptive strikes." The North seeks to "expand its nuclear arsenal," while the South advocates for a "ROK-US nuclear alliance." Neither side speaks of "peace," and hopes for an "end to the Korean War" or prospects for "denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula" are fading, increasing the likelihood of an accidental conflict.

The framework of cooperation with neighboring countries to resolve the Korean Peninsula peacefully is not working. The divide between the two Koreas continues to widen, and the deepening hostility is drawing the global competition for hegemony to the Peninsula. South and North Korea are now entangled in international power struggles involving major global powers. Worse, both sides are competing to supply weapons of mass destruction to conflict zones abroad, effectively exporting war for economic gainThe Yoon Seok-yeol administration has excessively engaged in military demonstrations and psychological warfare against the DPRK. It remains fixated on outdated theories of reunification through absorption and the collapse of the DPRK. Abandoning the "balanced diplomacy" of previous administrations, it has prioritized building a military alliance with the United States and Japan. President Yoon’s term is at a turning point. We cannot allow the continuation of bias, dogma, and hostility that have dominated the past two and a half years. The confrontation and enmity imposed on us have exacerbated the crisis of war, restricting our ability to live freely and peacefully. We assert our right to live in peace and demand that our government take meaningful steps toward achieving it. The Yoon Seok-yeol administration must shift its approach and work decisively for peace on the Korean Peninsula.

First, take immediate steps to prevent accidental clashes along the border. Neither the governments of South and North nor civil groups should engage in provocative actions near the Military Demarcation Line or border areas that threaten the safety and security of the Korean Peninsula’s people and risk triggering armed conflict. Both sides must cease all hostile activities, including leafleting, psychological warfare, and military displays of force, and restore communication channels to mitigate the risk of accidental confrontations. Furthermore, the September 19 Military Agreement should be reinstated as soon as possible. However, the Yoon Seok-yeol administration has taken dangerous and irresponsible actions that escalate tensions. It has directly or indirectly supported the distribution of anti-Pyongyang leaflets by civil groups in border areas. When Pyongyang retaliated with "dirty balloons," the government used this as a pretext to resume loudspeaker broadcasts, suspend the September 19 Military Agreement, and restart military exercises along the Military Demarcation Line. It also neither confirmed nor denied North Korean accusations that South Korean drones dropped propaganda leaflets over Pyongyang, further exacerbating tensions. The Yoon Seok-yeol administration must immediately cease supporting civil groups engaged in leaflet distribution and address the legitimate concerns of residents and local governments in border regions. To rebuild trust and restore the military agreement, the government should proactively halt loudspeaker broadcasts and other provocative military actions along the border. A commitment to de-escalation and confidence-building measures is essential for ensuring the safety and security of all citizens and fostering a stable environment for dialogue.

Second, seek realistic solutions to improve relations and pursue peaceful coexistence. President Yoon Seok-yeol has championed the concept of ‘peace through strength’, yet peace remains elusive as the vicious cycle of hostility and confrontation continues to escalate. The DPRK’s nuclear and missile capabilities have advanced, while the government has rejected negotiations, opting instead to pursue confrontation through force. The administration’s advocacy for a "free North Korea" and "free reunification" reflects a dangerously absorptionist approach, implying the collapse of the DPRK and reunification on the ROK’s terms, potentially through military means. This Cold War-era mindset not only turns back the clock on progress but also serves as justification for DPRK's hostile policies toward the ROK and its continued nuclear buildup. The only sustainable solution to the challenges on the Korean Peninsula lies in a peaceful approach centered on improving inter-Korean relations, as well as fostering better ties between the DPRK, the United States, and Japan. President Yoon Seok-yeol must abandon the failed policies of sanctions, pressure, and reliance on military superiority. Instead, the administration should adopt a more pragmatic and fundamental approach focused on dialogue, mutual respect, and peaceful coexistence.

Third, end US-Japan-biased diplomacy and shift to balanced diplomacy and peaceful cooperation. The ‘global alliance’ and ‘value diplomacy’ championed by the Yoon Seok-yeol administration have perpetuated dogma and bias, resulting in significant diplomatic failures. While portraying Japan as a "partner that shares universal values," the Yoon government has enabled the violation of victims’ rights and the distortion of historical truths. By uncritically aligning itself with the US "pivot to great power" strategy and accepting the US-Japan military alliance as inevitable, South Korea's relations with neighboring countries, including China and Russia, have deteriorated into outright hostility. This US-centric approach, presented as a "global strategic alliance" and a "value alliance," has now backfired, burdening the nation with the costly consequences of America-first policies. President Yoon Seok-yeol must cease efforts to build a war coalition that undermines peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula and in the Asia-Pacific region. The administration should also abandon unilateral diplomacy and narrow ideological confrontations that contradict the global trend toward multipolarity. The well-being of the Korean Peninsula’s people depends on peace and cooperation. It is imperative to restore balanced diplomacy and pursue a path that fosters a new order of peaceful coexistence and collaboration—both between the two Koreas and with the broader international community.

Fourth, cease military intervention in international armed conflicts. The DPRK has reportedly dispatched troops to support Russia in the Russia-Ukraine war, while the ROK is considering sending weapons and dispatching troops as "observers" to Ukraine. Both actions must be opposed. The DPRK’s military involvement in the war, which stems from its "mutual defense" agreement with Russia under their "comprehensive strategic partnership," is an unacceptable and illegal act of aggression. Similarly, ROK’s unilateral consideration of sending troops or lethal weapons to Ukraine—under the guise of observation missions and as a response to the DPRK's actions—sets a dangerous precedent. President Yoon Seok-yeol’s decision to potentially send troops abroad, even in small numbers, is particularly concerning. It violates the ROK’s constitution, which requires National Assembly approval for such deployments. Of additional concern is the recently leaked conversation between the national security chief and a senior ruling party member discussing intervention in the Russia-Ukraine war as a means of conducting psychological warfare against the DPRK. The Yoon administration must resist the temptation to exploit international conflicts as proxies for inter-Korean rivalry. Instead, it should focus on advocating for an immediate ceasefire and a peaceful resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The ROK must prioritize diplomacy and refrain from escalating tensions on the global stage in ways that could further destabilize the Korean Peninsula.

Fifth, completely overhaul the Yoon Seok-yeol administration's foreign and security policies. Concerns and criticism regarding the Yoon Seok-yeol government's provocative and biased foreign policy toward the DPRK have been raised repeatedly, yet all such criticism has been suppressed, with critics labeled as "anti-state forces." The government’s foreign and domestic policies are increasingly free from even minimal democratic oversight. The more President Yoon emphasizes freedom, the more civil liberties have been eroded. The specter of the old security state—one that controlled citizens through the abuse of law and an exaggerated focus on external threats—has gained ground. More recently, the administration has been accused of exacerbating tensions on the Korean Peninsula and using them for political gain, attempting to bolster its waning approval ratings. Those in charge of the National Security Office, the Ministry of Unification, the Ministry of Defense, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs show neither the will nor the inclination to listen to the people's desire for peace. Under this administration, there is little hope for any meaningful solutions or efforts to break the vicious cycle of hostility and achieve a peaceful resolution.

We warn the Yoon Seok-yeol government. Do not push the people further into a vicious circle of hostility and the danger of war. Those of us who want peace will follow the path of peace. If the regime refuses to change, we will reject it.