hankyoreh

Sept 7.

A collection of former high-ranking officials, scholars and civic group figures that support the continuance and development of a policy of engagement with North Korea have officially launched the Korean Peninsula Peace Forum, and held its inaugural meeting on Monday.

The forum, co-chaired by Paik Nak-chung and Lim Dong-won, has been convened for the purpose of refocusing the pro-engagement camp, which have dispersed under a continuous “anti-Sunshine Policy assault” since the launch of the Lee Myung-bak administration, and for building a base to realize inter-Korean reconciliation and a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula. In a resolution adopted at the meeting held at the Korea Press Center in Seoul’s Jung-gu, the Korean Peninsula Peace Forum said it would seek peace, mutual prosperity and peaceful reunification on the Korean Peninsula and develop the engagement policy necessary to realize these goals. The resolution also calls on the Lee Myung-bak administration to switch its current North Korea policy into one of active reconciliation and cooperation for peace in Korea and to improve inter-Korean relations. Moreover, it calls on both the U.S. Barak Obama administration to adopt an active and flexible attitude in negotiations with North Korea, and the North Korean authorities to return to the six-party talks.

Some 120 figures participated in the forum’s first meeting, including former unification ministers Han Wan-sang, Lim Dong-won, Jeong Se-hyun, Lee Jong-seok, and Lee Jae-joung. Baek Jong-chun, former presidential secretary for security, Ven. Jigwan, executive chief of the Jogye Order of Buddhism, Kim Sang-geun, South Korean co-representative on the Committee for the Implementation of the June 15 Joint Declaration, Hong Chong-gil, president of the North-South Sharing Movement and Chung Hyun-baek, director of Women Making Peace were also present.

The forum presented its project plan and activity goals on Monday and they include the search and realization of alternative plans to promote peace in Korea and Northeast Asia, Korean reunification, the continued development of policies of engagement with North Korea, and the spread of a public consensus on mutual prosperity on the Korean Peninsula. It order to bring these about, it plans to both establish meetings between conservatives and progressives in order to seek alternatives, and promote strategic discussions at the private level between figures from U.S., China and Japan.

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]