The Denuclearization and Peace-building on the Korean Peninsula and the Second U.S.-North Korea Summit in Vietnam

The second summit between the United States President Donald Trump and Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) Chairman Kim Jong Un has been scheduled to take place February 27-28, 2019 in Hanoi, Vietnam. We, Korean Americans and KAPAC members, firmly believe that a successful summit between President Trump and Chairman Kim will not only contribute to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, but also constitute an excellent stepping stone for peace and prosperity for the US, ROK, DPRK, and the world.

At the first summit in June 2018 in Singapore, President Trump and Chairman Kim agreed to “establish new U.S.-DPRK relations, “join their efforts to build a lasting and stable peace regime on the Korean Peninsula,” and “work toward complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.” Despite some criticism, the historic summit replaced the belligerence of the past with a flurry of diplomatic activities. As a consequence, no nuclear test has been conducted since September, 2017, and no ICBM has been launched since November, 2017.

In Hanoi, we hope President Trump and Chairman Kim will continue to build peace and achieve disarmament in the Korean Peninsula. Because the final, fully verified denuclearization (FFVD) may only be achieved by a long and phased process, a negotiated settlement through sustained diplomacy, reciprocity, and real peacebuilding are the only viable option for success. The upcoming summit is another significant opportunity for advancing peace and prosperity of the Korean Peninsula and the world.

At the upcoming summit, we also hope President Trump and Chairman Kim reach an agreement on the roadmap for the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, a formal declaration of the end of the Korean War, partial easing of economic sanctions against North Korea in exchange for North Korea’s concrete steps for denuclearization, and the establishment of the liaison offices for the diplomatic normalization between the two countries. We believe that the denuclearization and the peace regime of the Korean Peninsula should be achieved simultaneously, for they are two sides of a coin.

Based on the value of a solid U.S.-ROK alliance, we, Korean Americans, and KAPAC members, will do our best to achieve a complete denuclearization and a lasting and stable peace regime on the Korean Peninsula.

P.S. This is a briefing note prepared for Congressman Andy Kim (D-NY).

We welcome and support the U.S.-North Korea Summit

We, the Korean-American Public Action Committee (KAPAC), the Korean-American Federation of Los Angeles, and the Korean-American Association of Greater New York, welcome and endorse the U.S.-North Korea summit in May.

Over the recent decades, the increasing tension on the Korean peninsula has caused us to fear the possibility of a nuclear war, not only involving North Korea and the US, but also involving the world. The agreement between President Donald Trump and Chairman Kim Jong Un to hold a summit in May, assisted by the bridge-building role played by President Moon Jae-in, is a tremendous opportunity for positively accomplishing peace and denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.

A successful summit between President Trump and Chairman Kim will not only accomplish peace and denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula but constitute an excellent stepping stone for peace and prosperity, not only for Northeast Asia but also for the US and the world. We also applaud South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who has made this possible on the basis of a strong U.S.-ROK alliance, and President Donald Trump, who has shown outstanding leadership.

On behalf of all Korean-Americans in this great country of ours, the United States, KAPAC, KAFLA, and KAAGNY welcome and support the bold and wise decisions by Chairman Kim Jong Un and President Trump to hold the U.S.-North Korean summit. We call forth all Koreans and Korean-Americans, our fellow U.S. citizens and residents, our U.S. government and civic leaders, and the citizens of the global community to welcome and support the upcoming historical U.S.-North Korea summit.

Thank you.

March 19, 2018

The Korean-American Public Action Committee (KAPAC), The Korean-American Federation of Los Angeles, and The Korean-American Association of Greater New York

P.S. This statement has been published on News M.

The Statement for Peace Building on the Korean Peninsula

The PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games have just begun as a global festival of peace.

President Moon Jae-in has invested tireless effort to make the Games a success. President Donald Trump's has graciously agreed to postpone the joint military exercise between the United States and the Republic of Korea. And Chairman Kim Jong-un has generously offered to a large delegation. All these indicate that the Games will be a success. It also has a potential bringing about lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula.

The resumption of dialogue and cultural exchanges are thawing the inter-Korean relations, frozen for a long time. Under the IOC's "Olympic Korean Peninsula Declaration," North Korea and South Korea have agreed to field a unified women's ice hockey team and to walk together as one under the Korean Unification Flag during the opening and closing ceremonies. All these herald a new era of inter-Korean reconciliation and cooperation.

However, above the aura of peace on the Korean Peninsula, there is a dark shadow of war. In his State of the Union address, President Donald Trump harshly called the North Korean government a "depraved" and "cruel" dictatorship and promised to “wage a campaign of maximum pressure" against the country. The United States continues to deploy additional strategic assets around the Korean Peninsula and Guam. All indicate that the Trump Administration is seriously considering a preventive military strike on North Korea.

We believe that would be a big mistake. Even a very limited military strike will most likely invite North Korea's retaliation. China will not stand idly without taking military action if North Korea is attacked by the United States. Combined with the unlikelihood of U.S. standing by and South Korea's Kill Chain, quick escalation to all-out war is the likely result. If a full-scale war breaks out, it could quickly and unavoidably expand into a nuclear war. The result may be that not only would the two Koreas be destroyed, but the global peace could be seriously threatened. Thus, we strongly oppose any form of military action on the Korean Peninsula by any party.

For the sake of peace on the Korean Peninsula, we demand:

First, President Moon Jae-in should play a bridge-building role in making every effort to improve inter-Korean relations while at the same time promoting U.S.-North Korea dialogue with the goal of denuclearization and construction of a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula. South Korea’s opposition parties and the conservative media should abandon their partisan efforts to disrupt inter-Korean reconciliation and instead strive for the success of the Games and peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Second, President Trump should immediately engage in dialogue with North Korea without condition. He must seriously consider halting the joint US-ROK military exercises in exchange for North Korea halting nuclear and missile tests. Also stopping the use of harsh words and war talk could add strong wind to the possibility of diplomatically resolving the North Korean nuclear issue without resorting to a destructive war.

Third, Chairman Kim Jong-un should do the same:  immediately cease nuclear and missile tests, actively strive to improve inter-Korean relations through inter-Korean dialogue and exchanges, and actively engage in talks with the United States for the construction of a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula free of nuclear weapons.

Thus, the United States, South Korea and North Korea should work together to build a peace on the Korean Peninsula. Freezing North Korea’s nuclear and missile tests and halting U.S.-ROK joint military exercises are two important bridging steps. We want peace, not war. The dark cloud of war must be replaced with a bright ray of hope and peace.

The KOREAN AMERICAN PUBLIC ACTION COMMITTEE (KAPAC)

P.S. This statement appears on New N Joy US.