Christine Ahn, Executive Director of Women Cross DMZ, delivers the speech “Peace in Korea for Peace and Security in the United States and Our World” (beginning at 12:34) and is awarded the Dr. Henry Oster Memorial Peace Builder Award on January 17, 2020 at the Rotary International Peace Conference in Ontario, CA.
On Monday, July 27 — the 67th anniversary of the signing of the Korean War armistice — leading experts on Korea and U.S.-Korean relations discussed how a peace agreement can resolve the security crisis on the Korean Peninsula. This event featured the authors of the forthcoming Path to Peace report, which will be released in fall 2020 by Korea Peace Now!, a global movement of women working to end the Korean War. The event was co-hosted by Women Cross DMZ, the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, and The American Conservative.
Introductions were given by Christine Ahn (Executive Director of Women Cross DMZ), Suzanne DiMaggio (Chairman of Quincy Institute), and Kelley Vlahos (Executive Editor of The American Conservative). Welcome statements were made by Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA17) and Doug Bandow (Cato Institute).
SPEAKERS:
On June 25, 2020, the 70th anniversary of what is officially known as the start of the Korean War, preeminent Korea historian Bruce Cumings discussed the neglected history of the unresolved war and how it continues to haunt the present.
This webinar was organized by Korea Peace Network, Korea Peace Now! Grassroots Network, Peace Treaty Now, and Re’Generation Movement.
Tensions between the two Koreas reached a boiling point on June 16, 2020, when North Korea destroyed the inter-Korean liaison office in Kaesong to symbolize the end of an era of inter-Korean reconciliation. In a series of statements released by the Korean Central News Agency, North Korea expressed frustration with South Korea for failing to adhere to commitments made in inter-Korean agreements, including halting activist groups from sending propaganda leaflets across the border.
Women Cross DMZ’s Hyun Lee explains why tensions are running high, and what can be done to reduce hostilities and work toward peace.
Last week, we had the opportunity to gather with Gloria Steinem, Jody Williams, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, and others to celebrate the 5th anniversary of our historic DMZ crossing to call for peace on the Korean Peninsula.
We came together to reflect on and celebrate our achievements in the last five years, but also to gather and renew our strength for the path forward.
Among some of the highlights:
Ann Wright, a former US Army colonel and diplomat, recounted the experience of meeting a North Korean general during a quilt-stitching ceremony in Pyongyang and realizing that they had both been preparing for war with each other’s countries but had now come together for the cause of peace.
Congresswoman Barbara Lee, whose father fought in the Korean War, described what it was like to watch the 2015 crossing when she was in Ghana. She likened the criticisms of our calls for peace to her lone vote against the Iraq war in 2001.
Nobel Peace Laureate Jody Williams recalled her experience traveling to the DMZ and meeting South Korean soldiers who worked with North Korean soldiers on de-mining portions of the DMZ and realized their shared humanity.
Women Cross DMZ Co-founder Gloria Steinem reflected on how much progress the women’s movement for peace in Korea has made since 2015, as evidenced by the resolution in Congress calling for an official end to the Korean War.
Also discussed: the impact of our report on “The Human Costs and Gendered Impact of Sanctions on North Korea” and the Congressional resolution calling for an end to the Korean War with a peace agreement.
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