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On 25 Jan, Korea Peace Appeal Campaign sent a letter to the US President Joe Biden to call for ending the Korean war for peace on the Korean peninsula. We call on the US President Biden to actively engage in peace-building on the Korean Peninsula.
Letter to the US President Joe Biden to Call for Ending the Korean War for Peace on the Korean Peninsula
Jan 25, 2021
Dear President Biden,
First of all, we extend our sincere congratulations on your inauguration as the 46th President of the United States of America.
We are representatives of the ‘Korea Peace Appeal: Peace Campaign to End the Korean War’, an international campaign that seeks an end to the Korean War and to achieve a transition from armistice to peace on the Korean Peninsula. The year 2020 marked 70 years from the outbreak of the Korean War, and 67 years since the signing of the armistice agreement. In July 2020, we launched the Korea Peace Appeal to pursue the demands of civil societies and religious communities for peace, and began a campaign to collect signatures and declarations of support across the world. The seven major religious orders in Korea and more than 360 civil society groups, as well as 50 international partner organizations have joined this campaign. People around the world including US citizens are calling for an immediate end to the Korean War.
The Korean War has brought great loss and pain to not only the people of the divided peninsula but also US war veterans and their families. The unresolved Korean War has left the Korean Peninsula in the frontline of confrontations between Cold War regimes and military powers, and ideologies and has been responsible for a continued arms race, despite the end of the Cold War. This has led to the DPRK’s development of nuclear weapons and long-range missiles. Under the armistice system, the people of the Korean Peninsula have lived with constant fear of war and threats of destruction as well as endless military exercises.
For the past three decades, the Two Koreas have been working to resolve this military impasse and to eliminate the fear of war. In 2018 for example, the leaders of two Koreas declared that there would be no more war on the Korean Peninsula and a new age of peace had begun. The Singapore Summit, where the leaders of the US and DPRK agreed to create new US-DPRK relationships, offered great promise for the building of peace on the Korean Peninsula. However, our expectations have been disappointed as there has been no progress on ending the war at government level.
Over the past year, people all over the world have been working hard to deal with the Covid-19 crisis, on top of the climate crisis. We have learned that coexistence and cooperation at all levels are essential in overcoming these crises. It is time to stop all armed conflicts and confrontation and instead rely on the pooling of our resources and wisdom through dialogue. More than ever, the people of the Korean Peninsula need a formal end to the War and confidence building to enable peaceful coexistence.
We call on the US President Biden to actively engage in peace-building on the Korean Peninsula including following:
Firstly, we call on the Biden administration to actively take meaningful steps to end the 70 years of Korean War. We also urge the Biden administration to move toward establishing new US-DPRK relations and building a lasting peace regime and achieving denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula.
The end of long-lasting hostile relationships and the establishment of new US-DPRK relations will be the foundation for peace and prosperity on the Peninsula and in Northeast Asia as well. We hope that the Biden administration will engage in talks and negotiate with the DPRK at the summit level to achieve a peace regime and the denuclearization on the Peninsula. We hope that President Biden will be both determined and persistent in ending the Korean War so that 2021 will be remembered as the beginning of peace with the end of the Korean War and on the Peninsula.
Secondly, we hope for the cooperation and support of the Biden administration to ensure that inter-Korean agreements are respected and inter-Korean exchange and cooperation can be implemented.
The two Koreas have already made strides in inter-Korean agreements for peace and shared prosperity, such as, the June 15th South-North Joint Declaration at the inter-Korean summit in 2000 and the Panmunjom Declaration and the Pyongyang Joint Declaration, at the summits in 2018. Confidence building based on inter-Korean cooperation between the two Koreas will promote achieving denuclearization and establishing a peace regime on the Peninsula. We urge the Biden administration to actively cooperate and support the implementation of the inter-Korean agreements to establish peace on the Peninsula.
Thirdly, we hope the Biden administration will abandon sanctions and pressures, and continue negotiations with the DPRK through dialogue and cooperation.
When we look back at the history of the US-DPRK negotiations, flexibility, dialogue and cooperation have led to positive results, whilst sanctions and pressure generally stalemated negotiations. Military activities such as large-scale joint exercises are not conducive to sustained dialogue, as they create tensions in Northeast Asia, including the Peninsula.
Fourthly, we call on the Biden administration to make a concerted effort to promote a world free from nuclear weapons.
We believe that the complete denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula would be successfully achieved where it combined with global efforts towards world denuclearization. We urge the Biden administration to show leadership to sign and ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.
Fifthly, we hope that the Biden administration will make efforts to establish a common peace security regime in Northeast Asia.
The new Cold War conflicts of the great powers in Northeast Asia would threaten the security of the world and endanger peace and people’s safety on the Korean Peninsula fundamentally. We hope that the Biden administration will take the lead in establishing a new peace order in Northeast Asia, which will help create a global environment for peace on the Peninsula.
We want peace, and we hope the world and the Korean Peninsula can be free from nuclear weapons and nuclear threat. Our goal is a break from the vicious cycle of the arms race and invest instead in our peaceful security and environmental sustainability.
We hope that President Biden responds to our request for ending the Korean war and achieving peace.
70 years is enough. Let us move from armistice to peace. Let us end the Korean War now.
Sincerely,
Honorary Representatives of Korea Peace Appeal Campaign
Co-Representatives of the Korea Peace Appeal Campaign
Korea Peace Appeal Campaign Organizations (364 organizations)
2020 Organizing Committee for the Launch of Peace Boat on the Han River Estuary, Action for Korean Peace, Alternative Cultural Space Poom (Labor) & Pedagogy, Alternative Culture Solidarity, Ansung network, Asia Peace and History Education Network, Asian Social Science Research Institute, Association of Major Superiors of Religious Women in Korea-Department of Reconciliation of the Korean people, Baikdusan Writers' Association, BONA COM, Bucheon Citizens Coalition, Buddhist Environmental Solidarity, Bundang Citizen's Association for Environment, Busan People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, Catholic Archdiocese of Gwangju-Committee for Justice & Peace, Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea-Committee for the Reconciliation of the Korean People, Catholic Diocese of Busan-Committee for Justice & Peace, Catholic Diocese of Incheon Priests' Solidarity, Catholic Diocese of Suwon Priests' Solidarity for Realization of Common Good, Catholic Diocese of Uijeongbu-Committee for Justice & Peace, Catholic Human Rights Committee, Catholic Priests' Association for Justice, Center for Korean Women & Politics, Center for Military Human Rights Korea, Changjak 21, CHEONAN KYC, Cheongju Living & Education Community Gongryong, Chondogyo Youth Association, Christian Youth Academy, Citizen Solidarity for Participation & Autonomy of Chungbuk, Citizen's Alliance to Achieve Candlelight Desire, Citizen's Association for Ecological Conservation, Citizen's Solidarity for Peace and Unification, Citizens' Association for Preservation of National Parks, Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice, Civil Movement Organization for Gaeseong Tourism, Civil Peace Forum, Civil Society Organizations Network in Bucheon, Civil Society Organizations Network in Korea, Civilian Military Watch, Coal Briquettes for Neighbors in Korea, Columban Mission Society JPIC, Committee for the Inter-Korean Theatre Exchange, Community Movement Solidarity for Participation & Autonomy of Chungbuk, Community Movement Solidarity for Participatory & Self-governing, Consolata Missionaries Peace Sharing, Cool-jam, Corporates' Emergency Measure Commission for Gaeseong Industrial Complex, Cultural Action, Daechuri Peace Village, Daegu People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, Daejeon People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy & self-government, Dasan Human Rights Center, Donghak-Chondogyo Action Union, Dyn2plus, Eco Horizon Institute, Ecobuddy Institute, Ecumenical Youth Council in Korea, Energy Peace, Energy Peace Foundation, Environmental Justice, Eurasia Peace Road, Federation of Korean Trade Unions, Forest of Life, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Korea Office, Friends of Asia, Friends of Mountain & Nature-Uiryeong People, Gangjeong Friends, Gangjeong Peace Network, Gangjeong Village Anti-navy Base Council, Gangwon Civil Society Organizations Network, Gawngju Peace Foundation, Geoje Citizens’Coalition for Economic Justice, Geumjeonggul Human Rights & Peace Foundation, Gichagil After School, Gimcheon Citizen's Association against THAAD, Goyang Citizens' Coalition, Green Future, Green Korea United, Gunsan Citizens' Mobilization to Reclaim the Land from US Forces in Korea, Gyeong-gi Women's Association United, Gyeonggibukbu Peace Action, HANANURI, Heritage of Korean Independence, Hoperail, Human Rights Foundation SARAM, Hyungmyung Foundation, Imagination For International Solidarity, IMAGINE PEACE, Incheon Community Network, Incheon Movement For One Korea, Incheon Network for Peace & Welfare, Incorporated Organization Silcheon Bulgyo, Indramang Life Community, Inhabitants' Solidarity of Gangwon in South & North Koreas, Institute of church and society, JeJu Byeop-ssi School, Jeju Dark Tours, Jeju Peace Human Rights Institute WHAT, Jeju People out of the Island, Jeju Queer Cultural Festival Organizing Committee, Jeju Solidarity for Participatory Self-government & Environmental Conservation, Jejugraphie, Jeonbuk Green Korea United, Jeonbuk Institute of Future Education, Jeonbuk Peace Forum, Jeonbuk Solidarity for Peace & Human Rights, Jeonju Contingent Workers Network, Jesuit Research Center for Advocacy and Solidarity, JOGAKBO, Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism-Office for the Promotion of National Unity, Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism-Social Labour Committee, Joint Committee against Coal Power Plant in Pocheon, Joint Struggle for Stop Irregular Work NOW, JusPeace, Kang Myungkoo Peace Marathon Citizen's Solidarity, Korea Alliance For Progressive Movement(KAPM), Korea Anabaptist Center, Korea Association for Restorative Justice, KOREA EDUCATION RESEARCH INSTITUTE, Korea Environmental Council, Korea Federation for Environmental Movements, Korea NGO Council for Cooperation with North Korea, Korea Peace Forum, Korea Peacebuilding Institute, KOREA REFARMER ASSOCIATION, Korea Women's Associations United, Korea YWCA (Andong YWCA, Ansan YWCA, Anyang YWCA, Bucheon YWCA, Busan YWCA, Changwon YWCA, Cheonan YWCA, Chuncheon YWCA, Chungju YWCA, Chungju YWCA, Daegu YWCA, Daejeon YWCA, Donghae YWCA, Gangneung YWCA, Geoje YWCA, Gimhae YWCA, Goyang YWCA, Gunsan YWCA, Gwangju YWCA, Gwangmyeong YWCA, Gwangyang YWCA, Gyeongju YWCA, Hanam YWCA, Iksan YWCA, Incheon YWCA, Jecheon YWCA, Jeju YWCA, Jeonju YWCA, Jinhae YWCA, Jinju YWCA, Masan YWCA, Mokpo YWCA, Namwon YWCA, Namyangju YWCA, Nonsan YWCA, Paju YWCA, Pohang YWCA, Pyeongtaek YWCA, Sacheon YWCA, Sejong YWCA, Seocheon YWCA, Seogwipo YWCA, Seongnam YWCA, Seoul YWCA, Sokcho YWCA, Suncheon YWCA, Suwon YWCA, Tongyeong YWCA, Uijeongbu YWCA, Ulsan YWCA, Wonju YWCA, Yangsan YWCA, Yeosu YWCA), Korea-Vietnam Peace Foundation, Korean Catholic Federation for Justice, Korean Catholic Women's Community for a New World, Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Jeonbuk Regional Branch, Korean Conference of Major Superiors of Men´s Religious Institutes and Societies of Apostolic Life-Committee of Justice, Peace and Ecology, Korean Conference of Major Superiors of Men´s Religious Institutes and Societies of Apostolic Life-Committee of Reconciliation of Korean People, Korean Conference of Religions for Peace, Korean Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation, Korean International Network, Korean National Council of Sovereign, Korean National Strategy Institute, Korean Peace Network Against Military Bases, Korean Public Service & Transport Workers' Union, Korean Sharing Movement, Korean Teachers & Education Workers' Union Gyeonggi Regional Branch Pyeongtaek Ansung Chapter, Koreans against Conscription, KRDEMO, Life&Peace Solidarity, Martyre Yang Yong-Chan Memorial Association, Masan-Changwon-Jinhae People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy & self-government, Memorial Committee for the Jeju April 3rd Uprising and Massacre, Memorial Committee for the Jeju April 3rd Uprising and Massacre, Mennonite Central Committee Northeast Asia, Mennonite Church South Korea, MINBYUN-Lawyers for a Democratic Society, Museum of Japanese Colonial History in Korea, My Sister’s Home, NANUM MUNHWA, National Council of Churches in Korea-Human Rights Center, National Council of Churches in Korea-Reconciliation and Reunification Committee, Networks for Greentransport, National Council of YMCAs of Korea(Andong YMCA, Ansan YMCA, Anyang YMCA, Asan YMCA, Bucheon YMCA, Busan YMCA, Changwon YMCA, Cheonan YMCA, Cheongju YMCA, Chuncheon YMCA, Chungju YMCA, Daegu YMCA, Daejeon YMCA, Dangjin YMCA, Gangneung YMCA, Geochang YMCA, Geoje YMCA, Gimcheon YMCA, Gimhae YMCA, Goyang YMCA, Gumi YMCA, Gunpo YMCA, Gunsan YMCA, Guri YMCA, Gwangju YMCA, Gwangmyeong YMCA, Gwangyang YMCA, Gyeongju YMCA, Haenam YMCA, Hanam YMCA, Hongseong YMCA, Hwaseong YMCA, Hwasun YMCA, Icheon YMCA, Iksan YMCA, Imsil YMCA, Incheon YMCA, Jeju YMCA, Jeongeup YMCA, Jeonju YMCA, Jinan YMCA, Jinju YMCA, Masan YMCA, Mokpo YMCA, Mungyeong YMCA, Namyangju YMCA, Nonsan YMCA, Paju YMCA, Pohang YMCA, Pyeongtaek YMCA, Sejong YMCA, Seongnam YMCA, Seosan YMCA, Siheung YMCA, Sokcho YMCA, Suncheon YMCA, Suwon YMCA, Tongyeong YMCA, Uijeongbu YMCA, Ulsan YMCA, Wonju YMCA, Yangju YMCA, Yangsan YMCA, Yeongcheon YMCA, Yeongju YMCA, Yeosu YMCA, Yongin YMCA), National Reunification Movement Center of Young Korean Academy(Busan Young Korean Academy, Gwangju Young Korean Academy, Incheon Young Korean Academy, Jeju Young Korean Academy, Jeonju Young Korean Academy, Seoul Young Korean Academy, Ulsan Young Korean Academy), New Korea Network, NoGunRi International Peace Foundation, Okedongmu Children in Korea, One Korea Buddhist Movement, Pan Korean Association for Reconciliation, Parti Coop, Pax Christi Korea, Peace Ground, Peace Ministry at Missionary Society of St. Columban, Peace Network, Peace Sharing Association, Peace Wind, Peaceidubiduba, PEACEMOMO, People Making Jeju a Demilitarized Peace Island, People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, People's Solidarity for Self-Governing in Jeju, People's Sovereignty 2030, Professors for Democracy, Pyeongtaek Anseong Young Korean Academy, Pyeongtaek Peace Center, Rapha community, Realization of Worth Living Public Welfare Solidarity, Reunification Culture, Seongju Soseongri Villagers' Association against THAAD, Seoul Korea Youth Center, Sisters of the Christian Doctrine JPIC, SJSP, Solidarity for Peace & Human Rights of Asia, Solidarity for Peace & Reunification of Korea, South Korean NGOs Network to Establish a Society without Irregular Workers, St. Francis Peace Center Foundation, Sungmisan School, Suwon Korea Youth Corps, The April 9 Unification & Peace Foundation, The Center for Historical Truth and Justice, The Civil-Headquters for Activating the South-North Economic Cooperation in Korea, The Corea Peace 3000, The Hankyoreh Foundation for Reunification and Culture, The Human Rights Forum of Persons with Disabilities in Gyeonggi, The Human Rights Forum of Persons With Disabilities in Korea, The Institute for Reunification of Korea, The Korea Logistics Forum, The Korea Logistics Forum, The Korean Council for Justice & Remembrance for the Issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan, The National Trust of Korea, The People, The People’s Solidarity for Korea Youth Policy, The Righteous People for Korean Unification, The Seoul Curating Team of the Exhibition We still live in Miryang and Gangjeong, The Southern Committee on June 15th Joint Declaration, The Southern Committee on June 15th Joint Declaration Jeju Headquarter, The Southern Committee on June 15th Joint Declaration Jeonbuk Headquarter, Theater Company Gorae, TONGILBARU, Uijeongbu Peace Forum, Ulsan People's Solidarity, Unification Train Supporters, Visio Dei, Welcoming Unified Korea, Women Making Peace, Women's Forum for Peace & Diplomacy (WFPD), Women's Movement for Peace, Women's Solidarity for Environment, Won-Buddhist Committee on Reunification, Won-Buddhists Social Movement Network, Wonju Citizen's Coalition, WOORINURI Peace Movement, Worker's Solidarity from Below in Jeonbuk, World Without War, Writers Association of Korea, YeongDongGun Senior Welfare Center, Yeosu Community Research Institute (YCRI), Young Korean Academy, Zero Waste Movement Network
International Partner Organizations of Korea Peace Appeal Campaign (54 organizations)
6.15 NY Committee for Reunification of Korea
Albany Friends Meeting (Quakers)
American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)
Article 9 Canada （カナダ９条の会）
Association for Okinawa-Korea People’s Solidarity through the Movement against US Bases (沖韓民衆連帯)
Blue Banner NGO
Buklod Center Inc.
Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND)
Campaign for Peace, Disarmament and Common Security (CPDCS)
Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies (CPCS)
Christian Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
Dokai Action Executive Committee for 100 years of the 'Korea-Japan Annexation' ('한국병합' 100년 도카이행동실행위원회, 「韓国併合」100年東海行動実行委員会)
East Asia Popular History Exchange, Taiwan
Friends of "Comfort Women" in Sydney (시드니 평화의 소녀상 연대)
Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space
Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict Northeast Asia (GPPAC NEA)
International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR)
International Peace Bureau (IPB)
International Women's Network against Militarism
Korea Peace Now NY/NJ
Korean American Civic Action Atlanta (애틀랜타행동)
Korean American Public Action Committee, KAPAC (미주민주참여포럼)
Korean Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation Beijing China Council (민족화해협력범국민협의회 중국북경협의회)
Korean Peace Group in Germany (재독평화여성회)
Koreanische Frauengruppe in Deutschland (재독한국여성모임)
Mennonite Central Committee U.S.
Movement for Democratic Socialism (MDS)
National Association of Korean Americans (NAKA)
Peace 21 (내일을 여는 사람들)
Peace Action
Peace Action Upper Hudson
Peace Action of Wisconsin
Peace Boat
Peace Depot, Inc.
Peace for East Asia (PEASIA)
Peace Philosophy Centre
Peace Women Partners
Presbyterian Peace Network for Korea
ReconciliAsian
SAMCHEONRI Railway (NPO법인 삼천리 철도, NPO法人三千里鐵道)
Solidarity of Korean People in Europe (한민족유럽연대)
STOP the War Coalition Philippines
Veterans For Peace(US) - Korea Peace Campaign
Veterans For Peace Chapter 113-Hawaii
Veterans for Peace NJ #021
Women Against War
Women Cross DMZ
Women for Genuine Security
Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF)
World BEYOND War
World Council of Churches (WCC)
World YWCA
Young Korean Academy New York (흥사단 뉴욕지부)
ZENKO(National Assembly for Peace & Democracy)
https://youtu.be/OhvHWWDuxnI
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