“With a bit of support they [people in North Korea] have created sustainable approaches towards building their own resilience on many levels…” Tadateru Konoé, President of The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, on the resilience of people in North Korea
Dear friend--an update. This week I start with an important item of news: “U.S. to ease humanitarian-related travel, shipments to North Korea”--many thanks to American and Korean-American NGOs and activists who have worked tirelessly to bring about this small but important change: one step at a time. Please kindly support the works and analyses by activists and journalists that do not receive much attention from the American corporate media. Please help us make 2019 a year of hope and courage for the Korean peninsula, Northeast Asia and the world! Please help and empower each other by forming an enduring fraternity and friendship!
2019: A year of peace, hope and new U.S.-DPRK relations?
End Washington’s hostile policy.
Life regulations on U.S. NGOs’ Humanitarian assistance to North Korea.
End economic sanctions: “To deny assistance for the marginalized in the hopes that the governments will change their behavior is a long shot and unjustly places innocent lives at risk”.
End the Korean War.
Cancel deployments of nuclear capable platform to the peninsula.
Reinstate diplomatic relations.
End Washington’s hostile policy.
Life regulations on U.S. NGOs’ Humanitarian assistance to North Korea.
End economic sanctions: “To deny assistance for the marginalized in the hopes that the governments will change their behavior is a long shot and unjustly places innocent lives at risk”.
End the Korean War.
Cancel deployments of nuclear capable platform to the peninsula.
Reinstate diplomatic relations.
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1. Moon Chung-in (A Special Advisor to President Moon Jae-in)'s analysis of Chairman Kim Jong Un’s New Year Address (in Korean). STRONGLY RECOMMENDED! 문정인 교수님의 김정은 신년연설 우수한 분석. 강추!
KJU’s speech sought to meet international norm and standard
Overall constructive, cooperative and goodwill message
A bottom-up approach and emphasis on communication
Denuclearization requires reciprocal actions from the United States and a cooperative framework
Need to pursue both feasible short-term and long-term goals
The first time KJU mentioned a peace treaty in the New Year's speech
Paths: an end of war declaration by 3 parties (two Koreas and the U.S.) and a Peace Treaty by 4 parties (two Koreas, China and the U.S.)
US’s hardline policy towards North Korea and economic sanctions remain as the biggest obstacle.
Need patience, unify and cooperation for peace and prosperity in the Korean peninsula https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQFmvj_uuOY&feature=youtu.be
KJU’s speech sought to meet international norm and standard
Overall constructive, cooperative and goodwill message
A bottom-up approach and emphasis on communication
Denuclearization requires reciprocal actions from the United States and a cooperative framework
Need to pursue both feasible short-term and long-term goals
The first time KJU mentioned a peace treaty in the New Year's speech
Paths: an end of war declaration by 3 parties (two Koreas and the U.S.) and a Peace Treaty by 4 parties (two Koreas, China and the U.S.)
US’s hardline policy towards North Korea and economic sanctions remain as the biggest obstacle.
Need patience, unify and cooperation for peace and prosperity in the Korean peninsula https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQFmvj_uuOY&feature=youtu.be
2. Simone Chun. Kim Jong Un’s New Year Address: Did the Corporate Media Miss the Point? The Real News Network. 시몬천, 김정은 신년연설 분석 인터뷰. 미국 언론, 의회 한반도 평화프로세스 적극 지지하라.
KJU's speech was constructive one focusing on the economic welfare of individuals in North Korea.
No unilateral denuclearization of North Korea but a cooperative process of denuclearization of the Korean peninsula is needed.
Denuclearization process must encompass signing an end-of-war declaration by 3 parties (two Koreas plus and the U.S.) and working towards a peace treaty (by 4 parties, two Koreas, the U.S. and China).
Need to lift the UN and US-led economic sanctions on people in NK and support for the inter-Korean peace process. U.S. Congress, please support the Korean peace process!https://twitter.com/SimoneChun/status/1082048260909330432
A Trail of Joy and Hope. 우리 민족에 온 100년만의 기회. NEWSROH 뉴스로
http://newsroh.com/bbs/board.php?bo_table=reporter&wr_id=450
KJU's speech was constructive one focusing on the economic welfare of individuals in North Korea.
No unilateral denuclearization of North Korea but a cooperative process of denuclearization of the Korean peninsula is needed.
Denuclearization process must encompass signing an end-of-war declaration by 3 parties (two Koreas plus and the U.S.) and working towards a peace treaty (by 4 parties, two Koreas, the U.S. and China).
Need to lift the UN and US-led economic sanctions on people in NK and support for the inter-Korean peace process. U.S. Congress, please support the Korean peace process!https://twitter.com/SimoneChun/status/1082048260909330432
A Trail of Joy and Hope. 우리 민족에 온 100년만의 기회. NEWSROH 뉴스로
http://newsroh.com/bbs/board.php?bo_table=reporter&wr_id=450
3. Tim Shorrock. Kim Jon Un’s New Year’s Day Speech: Understanding Sovereignty Is the Key. 팀 쇼락 기자, 김정은 신년연설 분석. 남북한 단합, 주권으로 그 어떤 외부 세력에도 저항, 주권, 독립 통일 한민족 주제였다 우수한 논평. 미국은 단결한 남북한 평화프로세스 존중, 지지해야.
In his speech, Kim expressed great hopes in this process, calling the North-South military agreements signed in September a “virtual nonaggression declaration in which north and south have committed themselves to terminating fratricidal war based on force of arms.” He urged both sides to make “greater strides” this year to “reunify the country on the basis of the priceless achievements we made” in 2018. Kim knows very well that these achievements came about only after Moon and the South Korean government managed to overcome U.S. resistance to both the military accords and other moves towards reconciliation, including the joint inter-Korean project to link their rail and transport systems.
In his speech, Kim expressed great hopes in this process, calling the North-South military agreements signed in September a “virtual nonaggression declaration in which north and south have committed themselves to terminating fratricidal war based on force of arms.” He urged both sides to make “greater strides” this year to “reunify the country on the basis of the priceless achievements we made” in 2018. Kim knows very well that these achievements came about only after Moon and the South Korean government managed to overcome U.S. resistance to both the military accords and other moves towards reconciliation, including the joint inter-Korean project to link their rail and transport systems.
Bottom line: If the United States sticks to its line that no sanctions can be lifted until full denuclearization and continues to pressure Moon to limit his reconciliation efforts with Kim until a final deal on denuclearization, the renewed focus in both Koreas on the “sovereignty of the country” could emerge as the key factor in the Korean peace process.
4. Hyun Lee (ZoominKorea)’s interview with Loud and Clear on KJU’s New Year Address. 줌인코리아 현리, 김정은 신년연설 분석, 종전과 북미외교정상회가 한반도에 핵위기 제거 첫걸음이다 우수한 인터뷰.
"Resolving the North Korean nuclear threat will require ending the state of war and moving toward normal diplomatic relations" Listen to the interview here.
"Resolving the North Korean nuclear threat will require ending the state of war and moving toward normal diplomatic relations" Listen to the interview here.
5. Leon Sigal. For North Korea, Verifying Requires Reconciling: The Lesson From a Troubled Past -
Part 1. 북한 전문가, 언론인 리온 시걸 우수한 분석. 북미외교정상화 필요성 강조. 북한은 한미안보체결과 같은 수준의 안보, 불가침 조건을 원한다. To judge from what North Korean officials have told US officials and ex-officials for years, reconciliation entails the normalization of political and economic relations, a “peace regime” on the Korean Peninsula, and potentially an alliance like the one the United States has with South Korea that would be backed by a continuing US troop presence on the peninsula rather than withdrawal. https://www.38north.org/2018/12/lsigal121418/
6. North Korea food production fell this year, U.N. estimates. 유엔, 미국의 대북경제제제, 북한주민들에 심각한 식량난 초래.
As a result the country would need to import 641,000 tons of food in the coming year, up from 456,000 tons this year, when it bought 390,000 tons and received 66,000 tons in food aid...U.N. agencies estimate that 10.3 million people in the North need humanitarian assistance. But donor funding has dried up in the face of political tensions over its weapons programs, with critics saying that the provision of aid encourages Pyongyang to prioritize its military ambitions over adequately providing for its people. David Beasley, the head of the U.N.’s World Food Program, said in May that there was undoubtedly a hunger problem in North Korea but it was not on the scale of the 1990s famine. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/…/north-korea-food-productio…/…
7. How should ASEAN respond to North Korea’s overtures regarding denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula? 아세안 멤버 국가들 60,9% 대북경제제제 해제와 외교 지지.
Uphold UN sanctions: 24.9%
Continue engagement: 60.9%
The majority (60.8%) favour the diplomatic approach of continued “engagement with North Korea bilaterally and through the ASEAN Regional Forum.” Diplomatic engagement is the top response across all ASEAN member states except for Cambodia where 75% of the respondents prefer that ASEAN “take an active role as an honest broker.”
8. IFRC (The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies): Extreme weather intensifies chronic forgotten crisis in North Korea. 대북경제제제및 혹독한 추위로 더 악화된 북한 인민들 인도적 지원 절실.
“The impact of sanctions on basic medicines is severe. For example, the lack of vaccines, anti-viral medicines, rapid testing kits, personal protective equipment for health workers and hand sanitizer were major factors in an influenza outbreak earlier this year.”...The IFRC press release says sanctions against the DPRK are not intended to restrict humanitarian activities or have adverse humanitarian consequences for the civilian population….But in practice delays occur with “a serious impact on already vulnerable people” due to the fear of banks, suppliers and officials of violating sanctions. IFRC Head of Delegation and Permanent Observer at the UN, Richard Blewitt, adds: “The delays due to sanctions are especially worrying as the overall humanitarian situation in the country calls for more assistance, not less.
“The impact of sanctions on basic medicines is severe. For example, the lack of vaccines, anti-viral medicines, rapid testing kits, personal protective equipment for health workers and hand sanitizer were major factors in an influenza outbreak earlier this year.”...The IFRC press release says sanctions against the DPRK are not intended to restrict humanitarian activities or have adverse humanitarian consequences for the civilian population….But in practice delays occur with “a serious impact on already vulnerable people” due to the fear of banks, suppliers and officials of violating sanctions. IFRC Head of Delegation and Permanent Observer at the UN, Richard Blewitt, adds: “The delays due to sanctions are especially worrying as the overall humanitarian situation in the country calls for more assistance, not less.
9. Will The U.S. Give New Hope for Humanitarian Aid to North Korea? 올해 미국은 북한에 인도적 지원, 희망을 줄 것인가?
In 2018, charities including Save the Children and Global Fund scaled back or ceased operations in North Korea, where the United Nations says more than 10 million people require humanitarian assistance.
“We want to provide, for instance, water taps so we can lay piping and give access to clean water to rural clinics, poor people in communities as well as schools and other public venues,” the official said. “We need to import the taps and they have to go through the sanctions committee.”
“They have highly technically trained doctors but their resources are limited,” Park said. “So you have surgeons who are very skilful but they are unable to do a lot of the procedures because they might be missing a very key piece of equipment – something like that. “So what we are able to do is partner with the North Korean doctors, identify areas in their resource setting what kind of solutions would make sense.” In January, Care International put North Korea at the top of its list of humanitarian crises that received the least international coverage.
https://www.scmp.com/…/new-hope-humanitarian-aid-north-kore…
In 2018, charities including Save the Children and Global Fund scaled back or ceased operations in North Korea, where the United Nations says more than 10 million people require humanitarian assistance.
“We want to provide, for instance, water taps so we can lay piping and give access to clean water to rural clinics, poor people in communities as well as schools and other public venues,” the official said. “We need to import the taps and they have to go through the sanctions committee.”
“They have highly technically trained doctors but their resources are limited,” Park said. “So you have surgeons who are very skilful but they are unable to do a lot of the procedures because they might be missing a very key piece of equipment – something like that. “So what we are able to do is partner with the North Korean doctors, identify areas in their resource setting what kind of solutions would make sense.” In January, Care International put North Korea at the top of its list of humanitarian crises that received the least international coverage.
https://www.scmp.com/…/new-hope-humanitarian-aid-north-kore…
10. U.S. to ease humanitarian-related travel, shipments to North Korea. Washington shifts gears to ease private delivery of aid DPRK 북한에 인도적 지원 하는 미국 시민단체들 북한 여행 제제 조금 해제한다는 미국무성 보도.
“Showcase `the best from the U.S...Special Representative Biegun and U.S. humanitarian NGOs and UN officials ...“I feel hopeful MCC will receive permissions necessary to continue building on more than 23 years of engagement with DPRK through the delivery of aid to vulnerable people.” https://www.nknews.org/…/u-s-to-ease-humanitarian-related-…/
11. IFRC President commends community resilience building efforts in Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. “With a bit of support they have created sustainable approaches towards building their own resilience on many levels,” said Mr Konoé. 온갖 시련을 극복하는 북한 주민들의 자발적인 운동 감동. 국제 단체의 인도적 지원 호소. https://media.ifrc.org/…/ifrc-president-commends-community…/
Simone Chun, Ph.D
Member, Korea Peace Network
Associate, Korea Policy Institute
Member, CodePink Advisory Board
Member, Steering Committee, Alliance of Scholars Concerned about Korea
Twitter@SimoneChun
https://tinyurl.com/y7nl72pm
Member, Korea Peace Network
Associate, Korea Policy Institute
Member, CodePink Advisory Board
Member, Steering Committee, Alliance of Scholars Concerned about Korea
Twitter@SimoneChun
https://tinyurl.com/y7nl72pm
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