Toward Peace and Security in Northeast Asia:

An Appeal to the Governments and People of the United States, North Korea (DPRK), South Korea (ROK), Japan, China, and Russia

Heartened by recent positive developments over the Korean peninsula, but deeply concerned about the dangerous state of current affairs, we citizens of Japan, South Korea, the U.S. and other regional countries appeal to the peoples and governments concerned to seize the opportunity created by the visits to North Korea of former President Clinton and Hyundai Group chair Hyun to further dialogue and diplomacy in the service of peace.

Their visits and meetings with National Defense Council Chairman Kim Jong-Il, as well as the release of two American journalists and a South Korean employee, are welcome steps toward comprehensive dialogue. However, Northeast Asia as a whole is teetering toward disaster. The United States, South Korea, and Japan are tightening sanctions against North Korea; and North Korea is proceeding with its nuclear programs. Tension on the Korean peninsula, inherent in the state of war, is rising yet higher with this week’s military exercises. Yet there is no talk among the governments to resolve their differences.

It is high time that the concerned governments stop talking about talks and start talking with each other, bilaterally and multilaterally, to ease the tensions and search for lasting peace. The urgency of the situation, as well as the hope inspired by the Clinton-Kim and Hyun-Kim meetings, leads us to issue the following joint citizens’ statement.

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At the beginning of this year President Obama called for dialogue and cooperation with North Korea and stated his readiness to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il. Throughout Northeast Asia and beyond, hopes soared for a diplomatic breakthrough. But military tensions actually increased and the Northeast Asian region was swept by fears of a sudden change in the nuclear situation.

Coinciding with the opening of the Supreme People’s Assembly, Pyongyang announced that it would launch a satellite. It did so in April on the very day that President Obama gave his Prague speech seeking “a world free from nuclear weapons.” President Obama criticized North Korea for breach of the “rules” and said “violations must be punished.” The Security Council condemned the launch in a presidential statement and tightened existing sanctions.

On 25 May, North Korea responded to what it viewed as the statement’s infringement on its sovereign right by conducting a nuclear test. In response, on 12 June, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 1874 to punish North Korea for what it believed was a breach of its previous resolutions. On 2 and 4 July, North Korea in turn tested four short and seven medium-range ballistic missiles, prompting further calls for tightening the grip of Resolution 1874 and other measures. The vicious cycle of confrontation in which hardline response elicits hardline response, must be broken.

Security Council Resolution 1874 prohibited North Korea from exporting weapons, threatened its ships with inspection, and specified items that could be confiscated. If a North Korean ship were to be interdicted by the US, South Korea, or Japan, the tensions in Northeast Asia could reach critical level.

There has to be a turning back if Northeast Asia is not again to be engulfed in war. The situation that brought on the crisis must be reexamined and realistic policies adopted to avoid conflict. This is something that has been sought by all related governments since the early summer of this year. Now, we recommend the following.

First, we urgently call on President Obama and Chairman Kim Jong-il to return to a course of dialogue and negotiation, and to take resolute steps to reduce tensions. To that end, we urge that they immediately open US-North Korea negotiation, whether by public or non-public, bilateral or multilateral means, including by the dispatch of a special envoy. The two leaders should make clear that the goal of such negotiation is to normalize the relationship between the two countries, end the state of war, and denuclearize the Korean peninsula. As a first step, they should declare that they recognize each other’s sovereignty. The peoples of the two countries should support their governments in pushing ahead in this direction.

Second, in order to persuade North Korea to end its nuclear weapons development, we call on the nuclear weapon states of the Northeast Asian region – the US, Russia and China – to show readiness for nuclear disarmament in accord with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Further, Japan and South Korea should recognize that the US nuclear umbrella (extended nuclear deterrent), on which they themselves rely, has to be on the agenda for the denuclearization of Northeast Asia. Toward this end, the six governments should reiterate their commitment to the September 19th Statement’s goals, including the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and creation of a regional peace structure, and convene a Northeast Asian disarmament conference to lower the level of regional military preparations, including conventional arms as well as weapons of mass destruction.

Third, we call on Japan to recommit to a path of negotiating with North Korea. The Japanese government and people have been calling for the punishment of North Korea over the abduction question, and Japan has banned all trade with North Korea and forbidden North Korean ships from entering its ports. Diplomatic negotiations have completely broken down. Japan has refused to fulfil its obligations to provide oil to North Korea under the Six-Party agreements. Japan also took the lead in calling for UN sanctions over the rocket launch. The Japanese government and people must be aware of their own historical responsibility for the present crisis and reopen negotiations to normalize relations with North Korea on the basis of the Pyongyang Declaration (September 17, 2002).

Fourth, we call on the government and people of South Korea to take up the valuable opening provided by Hyundai Group Chairwoman Hyun Jeong-eun’s recent visit to Pyongyang and her meeting with Chairman Kim Jong-Il, making clear that they unconditionally oppose raising military tensions on the Korean peninsula and that they will not participate in inspection of North Korean ships. South Korea should strive to construct opportunities to improve relations. Just as the North-South summit meeting of June 2000 provided a historic moment toward dissolving the Cold War regime in Northeast Asia, so the South Korean government should now take the initiative to resolve new tensions in the region by honoring previous summit agreements and returning to a course of dialogue and cooperation with North Korea.

Fifth, we call on the governments of China and Russia, with their deep familiarity with the issues pertaining to North Korea, the security of Northeast Asia, and the nuclear arms race, to halt the cycle of escalation and bring the parties in conflict back to the negotiating table by proposing reconciliation among them and committing to the elimination of nuclear weapons and general arms reduction in Northeast Asia.

Finally, we urge the Secretary General, the President of the Security Council, and the United Nations as a whole, to reverse the cycle of escalation and make maximum efforts to bring all parties back to the negotiating table for resolution of the full range of nuclear and peace issues including US-DPRK and Japan-DPRK normalization and a peace treaty to end the Korean War. (August 20, 2009)

1. 학계: 12명

강만길(姜萬吉 Kang Mangil), 고려대 명예교수 역사학 / 전 상지대 총장 Professor Emeritus of History at Korea University / Former President of Sangji University

백 낙청(白樂晴 Paik Nakchung), 서울대 명예교수 영문학 / 6.15남측위원회 명예대표 Professor Emeritus of English at Seoul National University / South Korean Chair Emeritus of the All-Korean Committee for Implementation of the June 15 Joint Declaration

서광선(徐洸善 Suh, David Kwangsun), 이화여대 명예교수 신학 Professor Emeritus of Theology at Ewha Woman’s University

이효재(李效再 Lee Hyojae), 이화여대 명예교수 사회학 Professor Emeritus of Sociology at Ewha Womans University

정현백(鄭鉉栢 Chung Hyunback), 성균관대 역사학 교수 Professor of History at Sungkyunkwan University

조 은(曺恩 Cho Uhn), 동국대 사회학과 교수 Professor of Sociology at Dongguk University

마일런 하이트마넥(Milan Hejtmanek), 서울대 국사학과 교수 Professor of Korean History at Seoul National University

한완상(韓完相 Han Wansang), 전 한성대 총장/ 전 통일부 장관 Former President of Hansung University / Former Minister of Unification

홍창의(洪彰義 Hong Changyee), 서울대 의대 명예교수 Professor Emeritus of Medical Science at Seoul National University

고유환(高有煥 Koh Yuhwan), 동국대 북한학과 교수 Professor of North Korean Studies at Dongguk University

박순성(朴淳成 Park Sunsong), 동국대 북한학과 교수 Professor of North Korean Studies at Dongguk University

백학순(白鶴淳 Paik Haksoon), 세종연구소 남북한관계 연구실장 Director of Inter-Korean Relations Studies Program, Sejong Institute

2.문화예술계: 8인

고 은(高銀 Go Un), 시인 / 전 민족문학작가회의(한국작가회의) 회장 / 전 한국민족예술인총연합회 의장 Poet / Former President of Writers Association of Korea / Former Chairman of People’s Arts Association for Korean Artists

공지영(孔枝泳 Kong Jiyoung), 소설가 Novelist

김병익(金炳翼 Kim Byongik), 문학평론가 / 문학과 지성사 상임고문 / 전 한국문화예술위원회 초대위원장 Literary Critic / Standing Adviser of Literature and Intellect Publishers / Former Chairman of Arts Council Korea

김윤수(金潤洙 Kim Yoonsoo), 미술평론가 / 전 민예총 이사장 Art Critic / Former Chair-person of The Korean People Artist Federation

신경림(申庚林 Shin Kyungrim), 시인 / 동국대 석좌교수 Poet / Professor at Dongguk University

염무웅(廉武雄 Yom Mooung), 문학평론가 Literary Critic

이창동(李滄東 Lee Changdong), 영화감독 / 전 문화관광부 장관 Film Director/ Former Minister of Culture and Tourism

현기영(玄基榮 Hyun Kiyoung), 소설가 / 전 한국문화예술진흥원장 Novelist / Former Director, Korean Culture and Arts Foundation

3.종교계: 7인

김병상(金秉相 Kim Byungsang), 천주교 몬시뇰 Monsignor, Roman Cathol Church

김상근(金祥根 Kim Sangkeun), 목사 / 6.15공동선언실천남측위원회 상임대표 Protestant Minister / South Korean Chair of the All-Korean Committee for Implementation of the June 15 Joint Declaration

명 진(明盡 Myongjin), 봉은사 주지 Abbot of Bong-eun Buddhist Temple

이선종(李善宗 Lee Sunjong), 원불교 서울교구장 Head of Won-Buddhist Seoul Diocese

유경재(兪暻在 Yu Kyeongjae), 대한예수교 장로회 안동교회 원로목사 Minister, Korean Presbyterian Church

청 화(靑和 Chunghwa), 전 조계종 교육원장 Former Director of Bureau of Education, Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism

함세웅(咸世雄 Ham Seiung), 신부 / 민주화운동기념사업회 이사장 Catholic Priest / President of the Korea Democracy Foundation

4.법조계: 3인

박재승(朴在承 Park Jaeseung), 전 대한변호사협회 회장 Former President of Korean Bar Association

최병모(崔炳模 Choi Byungmo), 전 민주사회를 위한 변호사모임 회장 Former President of Lawyers for a Democratic Society

한승헌(韓勝憲 Hahn Seunghun), 변호사 / 전 감사원장 Lawyer / Former Chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection of Korea

5.시민운동과 사회원로: 13인

김윤옥(金允玉 Kim Yoonok), 전 한국정신대문제대책협의회 대표 Former Chair-person of the Korean Council for the Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan

박상증(朴相曾 Park Sangjeung), 아름다운재단 이사장 Chairman, the Beautiful Foundation

박영숙(朴英淑 Park Youngsook), 전 한국여성재단 이사장 Former Chair-person of the Korea Foundation for Women

박원순(朴元淳 Park Wonsoon), 희망제작소 상임이사 Chief Executive Director of the Hope Institute

오재식(吳在植 Oh Jaeshik), 전 월드비전 회장 Former President of World Vision Korea

이문숙(李文淑 Lee Moonsook), 한국교회여성연합회 총무 Director of Korea Church Women United

이수호(李秀浩 Lee Sooho), 전 민주노총위원장 Former President of Korean Confederation of Trade Unions

이창복(李昌馥 Lee Changbok), 민족화해협력범국민협의회 상임의장/ 전 국회의원 Co-Chair of Korean Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation/ Former National Assemblyman

이해학(李海學, Lee Haehak), 6월민주항쟁계승사업회 상임대표 President, Successors of June Democratic Movement

임동원(林東源 Lim Dongwon), 한겨레통일문화재단 이사장/ 전 통일부장관 Chair-person of The Hankyoreh Foundation for Reunification and Culture/ Former Minister of Unification

임채정(林采正 Lim Chaejung) 전 국회의장 Former Speaker of the National Assembly

정 강자(鄭康子, Jung Kangja), 전 국가인권위원회 상임위원/ 전 여성민우회 대표 Former Standing Commissioner, National Human Rights Commission of Korea/ Former Chair-person of Korean Womenlink

찰스 암스트롱(Charles Armstrong), 컬럼비아대학 한국학연구센터 소장 Director, Center for Korean Research, Columbia University

에드워드 베이커(Edward Baker), 하버드대 하버드-옌칭연구소 부교수 Associate, Harvard-Yenching Institute, Harvard University

허버트 P. 빅스(Herbert P. Bix), 빙햄튼대 역사학 교수 Professor of history, Binghamton University

리 차드 브로이노프스키(Richard Broinowski), 전 주한호주 대사(1987-1989), Australian diplomat (retired), Ambassador to the Republic of Korea 1987 to 1989

노암 촘스키(Noam Chomsky), MIT 언어학 명예교수 Professor of linguistics (emeritus), MIT

앤소니 디필리포(Anthony DiFilippo), 링컨대 사회학 교수 Professor of Sociology, Lincoln University

알렉시스 더든(Alexis Dudden), 코네티컷대 역사학 부교수 Associate Professor of History, University of Connecticut

헨리 엠(Henry Em), 뉴욕대 동아시아연구소 부교수 Associate Professor, East Asian Studies, New York University

매튜 에반젤리스타(Matthew Evangelista), 코넬대 행정학 주임교수 Professor and Chair, Government, Cornell University

존 기팅스(John Gittings), 런던대 아시아중동아프리카단과대 중국연구센터 Centre of Chinese Studies, SOAS, London

앤드류 고든(Andrew Gordon), 하버드대 역사학 교수 Professor of History, Harvard University

멜 거토프(Mel Gurtov), 포트랜드주립대 정치학 명예교수 Professor Emeritus, Political Science, Portland State University

톰 그룬펠드(Tom Grunfeld), 뉴욕주립대 교수 Professor, Empire State College, State University of New York

키미에 하라(Kimie Hara), 캐나다 워털루대 역사학 교수 Professor of History, University of Waterloo, Canada

마틴 하트-랜즈버그(Martin Hart-Landsberg), 루이스앤클라크대 경제학 교수 Professor of Economics, Lewis and Clark College

로라 하인(Laura Hein), 노스웨스턴대 역사학 교수 Professor of History, Northwestern University

J.E. 호어(J.E. Hoare), 평양 주재 영국대표(2001-2002) HM’s Diplomatic Service (retired), British Representative in Pyongyang 2001-2002

새뮤엘 킴(Samuel S. Kim), 컬럼비아대 위더헤드동아시아연구소 선임연구원 Senior Research Scholar, Weatherhead East Asian Institute, Columbia University

빅토 코쉬만(Victor Koschmann), 코넬대 역사학 주임교수 Professor and Chair, History, Cornell University

피터 쿠즈닉(Peter Kuznick), 미국대 핵연구소 소장 Director, Nuclear Studies Institute, American University

이남희(Namhee Lee), UCLA 부교수 Associate Professor, UCLA

캐서린 러츠(Catherine Lutz), 브라운대 왓슨국제관계학연구소 교수 Professor, Watson Institute for International Studies, Brown University

개번 맥코맥(Gavan McCormack), 호주국립대 명예교수 Professor emeritus, Australian National University

캐서린 H.S. 문(Katharine H. S. Moon), 웰슬리대 정치학 교수 Professor of Political Science, Wellesley College

샘 누모프(Sam Noumoff), 캐나다 맥길대 McGill University, Montreal, Canada

마크 셀던(Mark Selden), 코넬대 동아시아프로그램 선임부연구원 Senior Research Associate, East Asia Program, Cornell University

알빈 소(Alvin So), 홍콩과학기술대 사회과학 교수 Professor, Social Sciences, Hong Kong University of Science & Technology

서재정(Jae-Jung Suh), 존스홉킨스대 한국학연구소 소장 Director of Korean Studies, Johns Hopkins University

이매뉴얼 월러스틴(Immanuel Wallerstein), 예일대 특별선임연구원 Senior Research Fellow, Yale University

시어도어 준 유(Theodore Jun Yoo), 하와이대 부교수 Associate Professor, University of Hawaii at Manoa

아사이 모토후미(Asai Motofumi), 히로시마 평화연구소 소장 Director, Hiroshima Peace Institute　

엔도 세이지(Endo Seiji), 세이케이대 교수 / 일본 평화학협회 대표 Professor, Seikei University / President, Peace Studies Association of Japan

후 카미즈 마사카츠(Fukamizu Masakatsu), 신부 / 전 일본천주교정의평화위원회 사무총장 Priest / Former Secretary General, Japanese Catholic Council for Justice and Peace

후쿠야마 신고(Fukuyama Shingo), 평화인권환경포럼 사무총장 Secretary General, Forum for Peace, Human Rights and Environment

가베 마사아키(Gabe Masaaki), 류큐대 교수 Professor, Ryukyu University

이시다 다케시(Ishida Takeshi), 도쿄대 명예교수 Professor Emeritus, University of Tokyo

이 시자카 코이치(Ishizaka Koichi), 릿쿄대 부교수 / 북일관계 정상화를 위한 국민연합 의장 Associate Professor, Rikkyo University / Chairman, National Coalition for Normalization of Japan-DPRK Relations

이토 나리히코(Ito Narihiko), 주오대 명예교수 Professor Emeritus, Chuo University

강상중(Kan Sang Jun), 동경대 교수 Professor, University of Tokyo

카라타니 코진(Karatani Kojin), 작가 Writer

카토 세츠(Kato Setsu), 세이케이대 교수 Professor, Seikei University

카와사키 아키라(Kawasaki Akira), 피스보트 집행위원 Executive Committee member, Peace Boat

코모리 요이치(Komori Yoichi), 도쿄대 교수 Professor, University of Tokyo

코세키 쇼이치(Koseki Shoichi), 독쿄대(獨協大) 교수 Professor, Dokkyo University

마에다 테츠오(Maeda Tetsuo), 군사분석가 Military Analyst

무라이 요시토시(Murai Yoshitoshi), 와세다대 교수 Professor, Waseda University

무사코지 킨히데(Mushakoji Kinhide), 오사카 케이호대 아시아-태평양연구센터 소장 Director, Asian-Pacific Research Center, Osaka Keiho University

오에 켄자부로(Oe Kenzaburo), 소설가, 노벨문학상 수상자 Novelist

오카모도 아츠시(Okamoto Atsushi), <세카이> 편집인 Editor-in-chief, Magazine

오타 마사히데(Ota Masahide), 전 오키나와현 지사 Former Governor of Okinawa Prefecture

사이토 주니치(Saito Junichi), 와세다대 교수 Professor, Waseda University

사카모토 요시카즈(Sakamoto Yoshikazu), 동경대 명예교수 Professor Emeritus, University of Tokyo

시 미즈 스미코(Shimizu Sumiko), 평화인권환경포럼 의장 / 전 참의원 Chairperson Forum for Peace, Human Rights and Environment / Former Member of Parliament

시라야나기 세이이치(Shirayanagi Seiichi), 추기경 Cardinal

쇼지 츠토무(Shoji Tsutomu), 목사 / 고려박물관 소장 Protestant Priest / Director, Koryo Museum

서승(Soh Sung), 리츠메이칸대 한국학센터 소장 Director, Center for Korean Studies, Ritsumeikan University

타카하시 테츠야(Takahashi Tetsuya), 동경대 교수 Professor, Tokyo University

타카하시 소지(Takasaki Soji), 츠다여대 교수 Professor, Tsuda Women University

테루오카 토시코(Teruoka Toshiko), 사이타마대 명예교수 Professor Emeritus, Saitama University

츠지이 타카시(Tsujii Takashi), 소설가 및 시인 Novelist and poet

츠루미 슌스케(Tsurumi Shunsuke), 철학자 Philosopher

우메바야시 히로미치(Umebayashi Hiromichi), (주)평화저축 특별자문관 Special Advisor, Peace Depot Inc.

우츠미 아이코(Utsumi Aiko), 케이센여대 명예교수 Professor Emeritus, Keisen Women University

와다 하루키(Wada Haruki), 동경대 명예교수 Professor Emeritus, University of Tokyo

야마무로 히데오(Yamamuro Hideo), 전 NHK 주필 Former Chief Commentator of the NHK