Korean Women's Organizations Protest Bush's Promotion of War
Feb. 7, 2002, Seoul, Korea
We absolutely cannot accept words threatening war on the Korean peninsula.
President Bush has called North Korea, Iran and Iraq an axis of evil, with
an implied threat of war on the Korean peninsula. A sensation of fear and
anxiety is upon us. The U.S administration's hard-line rhetoric directed at
North Korea is a threat to Koreans who have worked so hard for peace and
peaceful reunification on the Korean peninsula.
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We women urge the U.S. to solve problems by continuing to talk and negotiate with North Korea, not through military action.
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Bush's pronouncement has come at a time when many active non-governmental
exchanges have been revived among South Koreans and North Koreans, building
again a spirit of trust between the South and the North. This also occurs
just ahead of the South Korea-U.S Summit in February. Bush's words mean that
South Korean-North Korean and North Korean-U.S relations are not going to be
easy. Furthermore, dividing the world into two parts of good and evil and
increasing the likelihood of military arms deployment throw the world into a
semi-war state.
We women, who have suffered militarism, are greatly worried that physical
and mental violence coming from militarism can devastate the world and
humankind. Therefore, we women for the sake of peace and security on the
Korean peninsula and moreover for a peaceful world, make known our demands
as follows:
First, we strongly protest Bush's promotion of an atmosphere of war and
creation of a pervasive sense of terror while seeking to gain hegemony. We
demand that Bush renounce his bellicose words.
Second, we reject any kind of military action that increases tension and
conflict on the Korean peninsula. We women know from experience that
military action brings violence around the world and amplifies it towards
women, children and innocent civilians. Also growing tension and military
action will surely ruin the whole economy on the Korean peninsula.
There have been talks between North Korea and the U.S. about restraining the
spread of weapons of mass destruction. We women urge the U.S to solve
problems by continuing to talk and negotiate with North Korea, not through
military action.
Third, we insist that the U.S stop forcing arms purchases and cease using
alleged threats from North Korea as an excuse to justify a Missile Defense
(M.D.) program. We are deeply concerned about the U.S. M.D. U.S. talk of
M.D. has built up tension in Northeast Asia and also made an arms race a
near certainty. North Korea has promised a moratorium on missile tests until
2003.
In the wake of 9/11, North Korea condemned the terrorist attacks and signed
several key UN antiterrorism pacts. We women sincerely urge that advanced
science, technology, and huge material resources be employed to improve the
welfare, human rights, and environmental conditions of the weak rather than
being used to hasten hostile military confrontations.
Fourth, we request that the Kim Dae Jung administration protest and clearly
draw back from hostile U.S. policy targeting North Korea. South Korea, which
has maintained a military alliance with the U.S., requires skillful
political leadership in carrying out a peaceful reunification process with
North Korea. How can South Korea now accept seeing North Korea become a
target of war in U.S. sights? This is an issue entwined in our livelihoods
and our very lives.
We women insist that the South Korean Government be the driving force
behind a Reconciliation and Cooperation Policy and that it carry out the
Policy with positive action and wisdom.
Fifth, the press must realize that this crisis is directly connected with
the fate of our nation and the people. We plead that this matter be
carefully dealt with in order to serve the national interest and to promote
peace on the Korean peninsula.
Lastly, we fervently hope that students, politicians, religious leaders,
women's organizations, and peace organizations in the U.S. will take steps
to halt the spread of war rhetoric and the threat of military action. With
them and all the peace-loving women and people in the world we may strongly
oppose war together. We promise to continue our efforts to uphold and keep
peace. We also declare that sustaining peace on the Korean Peninsula is
essential to maintaining and advancing the peace of the world. Living
together in harmony is the imperative choice for our world.
Back to Peace Talk Index, Spring, 2002