Dear Friend,
Events are developing rapidly in U.S.-Korea relations. The Pentagon announced Tuesday that the major 11-day Ulchi Freedom Shield joint military exercises with South Korea would be cut in half. This followed President Trump’s social media announcement that he would “substantially reduce” exercises.
Senior U.S. lawmakers from both parties heavily criticized Trump’s decision. Meanwhile, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung stated yesterday he respected Trump’s decision and efforts to create conditions for dialogue towards peace. North Korea’s leadership dismissed the reduction of exercises on the basis that U.S. policy remains “hostile,” though noted that the relationship between Trump and Kim “remains excellent.”
As reports increase on Trump’s push to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un this year, U.S. lawmakers must hold the Trump administration accountable and avoid repeating past mistakes. We must learn from the 2018-19 Trump-Kim summits, which collapsed without a durable nuclear or peace agreement, and left a diplomatic freeze. Former National Security Adviser John Bolton later admitted he worked to derail that process, encouraging President Trump to walk away by demanding full denuclearization up front.
Congress must independently back diplomacy. U.S. lawmakers must push administration officials to follow through on diplomacy, support de-escalation measures, and support a peace agreement.
For over 70 years, the ongoing Korean War and escalating tensions have undermined security for 80 million people living on the Korean Peninsula and millions more throughout the Pacific. U.S. lawmakers must independently back diplomacy and hold Trump and his administration’s officials to account. As the nation that is still at war with North Korea, the United States must act to end its longest war and pursue peace, engagement, and diplomacy. Take action now!
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On Saturday, August 15, hundreds demonstrated across the U.S. on the 81st Liberation Day of Korea, calling for an end to the Ulchi Freedom Shield war drills. Korea Peace Now! Grassroots Network members joined rallies in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Minneapolis, gave speeches, played pungmul (Korean traditional drums), and marched in solidarity with dozens of organizations and hundreds of individuals opposed to war and rampant militarism. These rallies were organized in alignment with a 10,000 person demonstration in Seoul opposing the Ulchi Freedom Shield war drills.
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🛍 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