Dear Friend,
This week, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung called for “peaceful coexistence” at the United Nations and urged the United States to ease sanctions on North Korea. Lee recognized some analysts warn it is “naïve” to expect the two leaders to forge a substantial deal, but “asked what option is left but diplomacy.”
In August, North Korea’s leadership dismissed Trump’s decision to scale down U.S.-South Korea joint war drills, noting that it did not substantially change the drills’ “provocative, aggressive nature,” and have cited other ongoing drills. North Korea also continues to be one of the most heavily sanctioned countries in the world.
Given these developments, we were concerned to see that a group of U.S. congressional leaders sent a letter to President Trump condemning the decision to reduce joint war drills. These lawmakers missed a critical opportunity to call for deescalation, encourage diplomacy, and acknowledge South Korean President Lee Jae-myung’s call for dialogue with North Korea.
Just this month, over 300 grassroots advocates sent 600+ letters to Congress urging lawmakers to hold Trump accountable and prioritize peace. Advocates urged Congress to act as an independent check, protect any renewed dialogue with North Korea, and ensure that U.S. officials prioritize peace-forward policies that guarantee security for Koreans and Americans.
Call for de-escalation and diplomacy for peace in Korea today! As tensions ramp up on the Korean peninsula, we cannot afford to wait.
Across the country, Women Cross DMZ, Korea Peace Now! Grassroots Network, and partners organized over 125 constituents in 20 online and in-person meetings with congressional members and staff. Most recently, we held in-district meetings with congressional members Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) (left) and Rep. Don Beyer (VA-8) (right) to advocate for deescalatory measures, ending the Korean War with a peace agreement, lifting sanctions on North Korea, and ending the U.S. travel ban on North Korea. Thank you to all our partners and grassroots constituents!
Democrats Are Urging Trump to Re-Escalate on North Korea. Cathi Choi, Executive Director of Women Cross DMZ, told Drop Site News that despite “serious concerns about Trump’s motivations and methods,” the reduction presents “a crucial window to de-escalate tensions.” Responding to the argument that scaling back the exercises without a reciprocal concession weakens Washington’s negotiating position, Choi said: “Diplomacy is not a gift. It’s an imperative for our collective security.”
Step in the Right Direction: Letter to the Editor. Read KPNGN and Education Committee Member Jennie Telfer’s letter to the editor in the Kansas City Star reflecting on the everyday experience of the U.S. military presence in Korea, the significance of scaling back joint U.S.-ROK military exercises, and why Americans should support Korea peace efforts.
US Leaders Must Call for De-Escalation and Peace on the Korean Peninsula. WCDMZ Executive Director Cathi Choi and AFSC Coordinator Austin Headrick write in Common Dreams on the prolonged stalemate in U.S.-DPRK relations and why U.S. lawmakers should support calls for diplomacy and de-escalation with North Korea.
Women Cross DMZ is pleased to support the crowdfunding campaign for Deann Borshay Liem’s new documentary, Relative Strangers. Equipped with DNA kits and allies around the world, a group of mixed race adopted Koreans search for their original families. Relative Strangers follows their journeys as they confront their complicated pasts and uncover the hidden truths that determined their fate.
Check out the trailer on Seed & Spark and join us in supporting the film today!
Don’t forget to register for a sneak peek of excerpts from Relative Strangers this Thursday, September 24 at 4pm PT | 5pm MT | 6pm CT | 7pm ET. Filmmaker Deann Borshay Liem will be joined by one of the film’s protagonists, Tanne Beudeker, her brother, Dr. Darrell Seldon, and adoption scholar Dr. Kim Park Nelson for a discussion about the origins of mixed-race adopted Koreans, what led to their adoption to countries far from their native land, and the power of finding community—and family. ASL interpretation and captioning are available. Register here.
Join us on Thursday, October 8 at 5pm PT/8pm ET for KPNGN’s October meeting! We will hold a mini workshop demystifying the op-ed (opinion-editorial) writing process and give you the tools to get your voice published. An op-ed in your local newspaper and other media is one of the most effective tools to shape the narrative, influence elected officials, and mobilize your neighbors to take action for Korea peace.
Immediately after, we will resume our three-part Korea Peace Now! Grassroots Network Orientation with an overview of KPNGN, its history, and structure. Mark your calendars! RSVP here.
Join us for an evening with Judge Denny Chin of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals and leading civil rights advocates and scholars, including Professor Bob Chang (UCI Law, Korematsu Center), Bethany Li (Asian American Legal Defense Fund) and more for a reenactment of Oyama v. California. We will discuss Oyama’s enduring legacies with legal scholars, civil rights advocates, historians, organizers, and policymakers to examine the enduring relationship between national security, foreign policy, democracy, and Asian American civil rights. Oyama provides a powerful historical lens through which to examine recurring questions that confront us today: How do geopolitical rivalries reshape constitutional rights? When do national security claims undermine democratic principles? RSVP here.
Women Cross DMZ mourns the passing of Gloria Steinem who played a central role in the 2015 Women’s Peace Walk and DMZ crossing. In 2019, Gloria wrote, “One of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done in my life was a Peace Walk Across the DMZ between North and South Korea, together with thirty women leaders from around the world.”
Read WCDMZ’s full statement and reflections from Christine Ahn, Grace Cho, Tina Insook Choi, and Sung-Hee Choi. If you would like to share your reflection, please send it to info@womencrossdmz.org.
✌️ Follow Women Cross DMZ and Korea Peace Now! on Instagram! Say hello and check out our accounts!
🛍 Support the Korea Peace Movement: Show your support for Korea peace with one of our tote bags, hats, baby onesies, and clothing, available here. All funds will support Korea Peace Now!, our U.S.-based movement for peace in Korea led by Women Cross DMZ. Art by Peter Holland and lazy blender.
In peace,
Women Cross DMZ