The implications of the U.S. election on Korea peace
Dear Friend,
As the November election approaches, many of us are anxious about how the outcome will affect the many pressing issues facing our country, including the issue of Korea peace.
We’ve previously outlined how the Trump and Biden administrations affected U.S.-North Korea relations. Most recently, WCDMZ Co-Director Cathi Choi speculated on what a Kamala Harris presidency would mean for Korea peace in an op-ed published by The National Interest.
“A majority of people in the United States still support diplomatically engaging with North Korea to reduce tensions and avoid military confrontation. Diplomatic engagement is not ‘cozying up’ to North Korea; rather, it is the prerequisite for peaceful coexistence and averting nuclear war. No amount of militarized escalation or sanctions will resolve the security crisis on the Korean Peninsula. We must instead maximize our efforts for diplomacy.” — Cathi Choi
New Korea Peace Champions: In better news, in the last two months we have had several new Korea Peace Champions! Thanks to the constituents of Reps. Donald Davis (D-NC-1), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA-18), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-5), James C. Moylan (R-GU-At Large), and Melanie A. Stansbury (D-NM-1) who helped make this happen! H.R.1369 now has 48 co-sponsors. Please help us get to 50!
Bay Area Crossings Screening: Thanks to everyone who attended the recent screening of Crossings, which was hosted by UC Berkeley’s Center for Korean Studies on September 20. We were so heartened by the turnout, and the attendees who asked thoughtful questions of filmmaker Deann Borshay Liem and WCDMZ Co-Director Christine Ahn while expressing their deep desire to heal the trauma of the Korean War. Special thanks to Professor Jinsoo An and the staff at the Center for Korean Studies for making this screening a success! Crossings is available to stream on Prime Video. You can always organize your own screening!
WCDMZ Bay Area Dinner: The night before, we also held a special dinner with many of our closest friends and supporters in the Bay Area to introduce Cathi Choi as part of the new leadership of WCDMZ. We were so moved by the outpouring of love for our movement.
Feminist Peace and the Diaspora: How are grassroots, women-led, anti-war movements challenging U.S. foreign policy? Read “A Conversation on the Role of Diaspora in Feminist Peace Movements,” with Christine Ahn and WCDMZ Board Member Marie Berry, an Associate Professor at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver and Director of the Sié Chéou-Kang Center for International Security & Diplomacy, published in The Brown Journal of World Affairs.
Upcoming Events: Please join us for these upcoming events…
- October National Grassroots Meeting: Join our monthly national Korea Peace Now! Grassroots Network Meeting on Thursday, October 10, at 5pm PT / 8 pm ET. Register here.
- “Memoir, Trauma, and Healing for the Korean Diaspora”: Author and professor Grace M. Cho and journalist and writer Iris Yi Youn Kim will discuss their work and how memoirs can act as a vessel for unpacking and healing intergenerational trauma, especially for members of the Korean diaspora. This is part of our ongoing Intergenerational Healing & Learning Series. Tuesday, October 15, 5pm PT / 8pm ET. Register here.
- “Peacemaking Through Collaboration Between Christians in North Korea and South Korea: Marking the 40 Years of Tozanso Process”: Rev. Kurt Esslinger, who serves as a mission co-worker assigned to the National Council of Churches in Korea, will discuss ecumenical efforts for Korea peace through the Tozanso Process, which began in 1984 by the World Council of Churches in order to build relationships between Christians from North and South Korea. Hosted by the KPNGN Faith-Based Caucus. Thursday, October 24, 5pm PT / 8 pm ET. Register here.
Support the Korea Peace Movement: Show your support for Korea peace with one of our t-shirts, sweatshirts, or hoodies, available here. All money raised 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,
Christine Ahn & Cathi Choi
Co-Directors