Photos Fwd: [April 12] Global Day to cut military spending: Our tax to welfare instead weapons

http://peacekorea.org/zbxe/79182#0
[세계군축행동의날] 국회-시민사회 공동선언 '우리 세금을 무기 대신 복지에'
Global Day to cut military spending: Our tax to welfare instead weapons
April 12

See more:
Peace Network 평화 넷워크
http://peacekorea.org/zbxe/
People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy 참여 연대 평화 군축 센터
http://blog.peoplepower21.org/Peace/

Text Fwd:Call for Peace and Disarmament in the Asia-Pacific Region and the Establishment of a NEA-NWFZ [호소문] 아시아 태평양 지역 군비 축소와 동북아 비핵지대 설립을 촉구하며

* Image source: Peace Network, Nov. 11, 2010 평화 넷트 워크, 2010년 11월 11일
For more images, click the above link 더 많은 이미지는 위의 사진 클릭

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* 아래는 참여 연대 평화 군축 웨사이트에 실려 있는 국, 영문 중 영문을 옮긴 것입니다. 국문 호소문: 아시아 태평양 지역 군비 축소와 동북아 비핵지대 설립을 촉구하며(2010년 11월 18일)를 보시려면 여기 클릭.

*The below is an English version and was copied from the website of Center for Peace And Disarmament, People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy(PSPD). To see the Korean version, click HERE.

_________________________________________________

Nov. 18, 2010

Call for Peace and Disarmament in the Asia-Pacific Region

and the Establishment of a NEA-NWFZ (Northeast Asia Nuclear Weapon Free Zone)

We are civil society activists and scholars from the United States, Japan, China, South Korea, and Europe, who work for peace and disarmament. We have just attended two international workshops to discuss ways to reduce military spending in the Asia-Pacific region and to build a denuclearized Korean Peninsula and a nuclear weapon-free zone in Northeast Asia.

On November 17th, People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, The Center for Peace and Law of the Institute of Legal Studies of Inha University and Peace Network organized an international workshop called ‘Civil Society Control of the Security Sector’ as part of the Asia-Pacific Freeze, which is a campaign to reduce military spending in the region. The participants discussed the military strategies of the United States, China, Japan, and South Korea from the perspective of civil society. During the workshop, we recognized the fact that military spending has rapidly increased over last 10 years along with the rising military tension. Against this backdrop, we agreed on the need to review and reevaluate each government’s military strategy – particularly, its interpretation of ‘military threats’ and military plans in response – from a civilian position. In addition, we confirmed that some of the cases, in which the respective governments in Northeast Asia suggest the need for military preparation, could be peacefully managed by expanding mutual trust or building trust and civil society would play a vital role in that regard. We also discussed ways to cut military spending, which has been dramatically increasing, and to transfer the money for peaceful purposes and development at the governmental, regional and global levels while sharing available cases.

On November 18th, we held another workshop entitled ‘Denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula and a Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone in Northeast Asia’ co-sponsored by Civil Peace Forum and several lawmakers (Sunsook Park, Eunsoo Park, Younggil Kwon, and Seungsoo Cho). In the workshop, we agreed that the efforts to establish a nuclear weapons free zone in Northeast Asia should go hand in hand with the Six-Party Talks, which seeks to denuclearize North Korea and build the peace regime. We supported the activities to build the Northeast Asia Nuclear Weapon Free Zone by Korea-Japan Parliamentarian Network for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament. We also reached consensus on the need for the 3+3 agreement, which requires North and South Koreas and Japan to renounce their reliance on nuclear deterrence, and the neighboring countries such as the United States, Russia and China to guarantee the Negative Security Assurances, which is a promise that they will not impose nuclear threats, in return.

Based on such agreement and understanding, we make the following requests.

● In the Asia-Pacific region, Northeast Asia in particular, the role of eliminating the military tensions and hostility and further creating an order of permanent peace and co-existence can be played not only by governments. We believe parliaments, municipal governments, intellectuals, and civil society can each play a creative role. We expect the Korean National Assembly to serve as a bridge for peace dialogue by linking government, civil society and national levels.

● We urge the respective governments in the Asia-Pacific region to open the military and security policy-making process to guarantee its transparency and also to reform its system so that civil society can participate. The ultimate purpose of military and security policies is to provide the population with a secure life and it is not only appropriate but also necessary that the people participate in and intervene in the decision-making process to decide as priority to allocate its investment in securing.

● We pay attention to the fact that each government in the Asia-Pacific region tries to find the balance between fiscal health and the provision of social welfare when they introduce policies in response to the global economic crisis. We would like to emphasize that in order to prevent the deterioration of the fiscal health and ensure resources for necessary social welfare and development, it is the most reasonable method to freeze and reduce military spending.

● We hope that Northeast Asia will become a peaceful community, not relying on nuclear deterrence. The history of nuclear weapons shows us that the more we rely on nuclear deterrence in defense policies the more we are exposed to nuclear threats. Therefore, we should proceed with our nuclear dialogues on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia based on the consistent principle that we pursue a community which does not depend on nuclear deterrence.

● We believe that the 3+3 framework for NEA-NWFZ(Northeast Asia Nuclear Weapon Free Zone) can promote the vision of nuclear weapon free world in the region. We believe nuclear weapon states should adopt a 'no first use' policy, guarantee Negative Security Assurances(NSA) to non-nuclear weapon states not to threaten to attack or attack, and implement the nuclear disarmament and abolition. We hope the two Koreas and Japan should not develop, produce, possess or deploy any nuclear weapon, with commitments not to produce any fissionable materials.

● We hope the Six-Party Talks will be resumed as soon as possible, within the framework not only of North Korea’s nuclear dismantlement but also improvement of North Korea-Japan and North Korea-U.S. relations, which should be discussed along with an in-depth discussion on the vision to realize the peace region on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia.

● We believe that the Missile Defense system is used not as a defensive but as an offensive tool which may cause military tensions in Northeast Asia. We express our deep concern about the ‘Missile Defense’ initiative, which has been introduced into Northeast Asia and the West Pacific region.

● We believe that the discussion on denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia should go hand in hand with the efforts to decrease the threats of conventional weapons and eliminate the imbalance of military spending. This is because of the possibility that if a state recognizes its definite inferiority in conventional military power and spending, it is more likely to obtain nuclear weapons or missiles to ensure asymmetric power.

● We express our concern that recently military alliances have strengthened and military plans have turned more aggressive in Northeast Asia and the West Pacific region. In this regard, we urge the peaceful and multilateral resolution of conflicts in the region and also the development of peaceful policies and methods. We call on all parties in the region to promote dialogue over the territorial disputes in order not to escalate the recent tensions and to bring about peaceful settlement.

● We support dialogue and collaboration between the North and South Korea governments, business sector and civil society organizations at the all levels. We welcome the continuation of economic cooperation in the Gaesung industrial complex, despite tensions caused by the Cheonan Incident, and also the recent resumption of meetings of separated families between North and South Korea. We hope that such cooperation and collaboration will be continued and further developed.

● We believe the Japanese Peace Constitution has provided a great contribution to the peaceful rise of Northeast Asia and such initiatives should be continued. In addition, we urge all the countries in the Pacific region to actually implement the peace principles and standards suggested in their constitutions and various laws and policies.

● We express our condolences to the victims of the Cheonan Incident and the family members of the deceased. In addition, we pay our respect to the Korean government and foreign experts who tried to find the cause of the Cheonan ship. However, we recommend that the Korean government and National Assembly investigate and answer the additional questions regarding the incident, raised both domestically and internationally. Also, we expect that in order to carry out the reinvestigation effectively and provide firm credibility to the results, North Korea, China, Russia as well as the previously participating countries, should be invited to investigate/review the incident.



Seoul, 2010. 11. 18




Signed by

가와사키 아키라 Akira Kawasaki (일본, Peace Boat)
유아사 이치로 Ichiro Yuasa (일본, Peace Depot)
존 페퍼 John Feffer (미국, Institute for Policy Studies)
콜린 아처 Colin Archer (스위스, International Peace Bureau)
한 후와 Hua Han (중국, 베이징 대학)
김수현 Kim Soo Hyun (한국, 진보신당 상상연구소)
여옥 Yeo-Ok Yang (전쟁없는 세상)
이경주 Lee Kyung Ju (한국, 인하대)
이대훈 Francis Daehoon Lee (한국, 참여연대)
이태호 Taeho Lee(한국, 참여연대)
이행우 Hang Woo Lee (한국, 전 미주동포전국협회 회장)
정경란 Gyung-Lan Jung (한국, 평화를만드는여성회)
정욱식 Wooksik Cheong(한국, 평화네트워크)
정태욱 Tai-Uk Chung (한국, 인하대)
정현백 Hyun-Back Chung (한국, 성균관대)

Event Fwd: International Workshop for Peace And Disarmament in the Asia-Pacific, Nov. 17 [행사 안내] 11월 17일 아시아 태평양 지역 군비 축소를 위한 국제 워크숍

Click the image for larger view

People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy

국문은 여기를 가세요.

Text Fwd: WARS ON EARTH & IN SPACE 지구와 우주에서의 전쟁들

Participants at national conference October 9-10 in Nagpur, India
- click on photo to see banners

Bruce Gagnon blog
Friday, October 29, 2010
WARS ON EARTH & IN SPACE

Excerpt

The Obama administration has continued the long U.S. tradition of blocking any hope of creating new international law to protect space from the ravages of war. At the United Nations today the U.S. voted to abstain (and thus block) any real hopes to negotiate and pass the "Transparency and confidence-building measures in outer space activities". The vote was 167 in favor with the U.S. abstaining. (Without the U.S. genuinely involved nothing can happen.) Today's vote came just two days after the Obama administration had the U.S. torpedo the U.N.'s annual Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space (PAROS) treaty resolution supported by Russia and China. That vote: 170 in favour, 2 abstained (U.S. and Israel). Just who is pushing an arms race in space?

10월 29일, "외계 우주 활동들에 대한 투명성과 신뢰 조치들"에 협의하기 위한 유엔 투표에서 미국은 투표 삼가함으로써 그 조치를 막음

[국문 번역]Text Fwd: BIDEN AT NATIONAL DEFENSE UNIVERSITY [미] 국방 대학에서의 [부통령] 바이든

Bruce Gagnon blog 브루스 개그논 블로그
Friday, February 19, 2010 2010년 2월 19일
BIDEN AT NATIONAL DEFENSE UNIVERSITY
[미] 국방 대학에서의 [부통령] 바이든



Vice-President Biden says that U.S. "missile defense" systems and new global strike systems will allow the U.S. to reduce some of our nuclear weapons.

부통령 바이든은 미국 “미사일 방어” 시스템과 새로운 전 지구적 공격 시스템이 우리의 몇 핵무기들을 축소할 거라 말합니다.

The Obama administration delivered a budget request for 2011 calling for a full 10 percent increase in nuclear weapons spending, to be followed by further increases in subsequent years.

오바마 행정부는 핵무기를 위한 소비에 10% 꽉 찬 증액을 청하는 2011년 예산 책정을 내놨는데 이는 이후 연도들에 더 증액될 것입니다.

A new study by Economists for Peace and Security called The Full Cost of Ballistic Missile Defense estimates that the total life cycle cost for a layered missile defense system could reach $1.2 trillion through 2035. The study can be found here.

평화와 안보를 위한 경제학자들의 ‘탄도 미사일 방어 총 비용’이 라 불리우는 새로운 연구는 층층화된 미사일 방어 시스템의 전체 생활환(life cycle) 비용이 2035년까지 1.2조 달러에 달할 수 있다 평가합니다. 그 연구는 여기서 [영문 원문 첨부] 보실 수 있읍니다.

Greg Mello, Director of the Los Alamos Study Group writes about Obama's proposed nuclear weapons spending increase: "This proposed 'surge' responds to a December 2009 request from Senate Republicans (plus Joe Lieberman) for significant increases in nuclear weapons spending. Such increases, these senators said, were necessary (but not necessarily sufficient) to obtain their ratification votes for a follow-on to the START treaty (which expired in December)."

로스 알라모스 연구 그룹의 감독인 그렉 멜로는 오바마의 제안된 핵무기 지출 증가에 대해 이렇게 씁니다: “이 제안된 ‘쇄도(surge)’는 2009년 12월, 상원 공화단 의원들(조 리버만을 더해)이 핵무기 지출에서 심대한 증가를 요청한 것에 대한 대답이다. 이 상원 의원들은 그러한 증가들이 전략핵무기 감축 조약 START treaty (12월에 만료한) 후속 협상에서 [자신들의]비준 투표를 얻기 위해 필요한 것이라 말했다( 그러나 반드시 충분한 것은 아니다).”

Mello continues, "Will Congress, especially the Democratic members of Congress, fund these increases? In part the answer depends on how seriously they take the several converging crises facing the country and the planet, and how seriously they address populist anger about the economy, especially in relation to their own reelection prospects.

멜로는 계속해서 말합니다, “국회가, 특히 국회 민주당 위원들이 이 증액에 [찬성할] 것인가? 그 대답은 그들이 국가와 행성이 직면한 몇가지 수렴되는 위기들을 얼마나 진지하게 받아들이는가 또한 그들이 경제, 특히 그들의 재선 전망과 관련하여 그들이 대중주의적 분노를 얼마나 진지하게 전달할 것인가에 부분적으로 달려있다.”

"In many ways the proposed nuclear weapons budget, and the defense budget overall, can be seen as bold raids on a diminishing pool of resources, as well as very real commitments to fading imperial pretensions. Nuclear weapons compete directly with the renewable energy and conservation jobs funded in the Energy and Water funding bills."

“많은 점에서, 제안된 핵무기 예산과 국방 예산은 전체적으로, 감소해가는 자원층에 대한 뻔뻔한 급습이자 쇠퇴해가는 제국의 허세를 위한 진짜 사명감으로 볼 수 있다. 핵무기는 에너지와 물 기금 법안에 의해 자금이 지급되는 재생 에너지, 보전 직업들과 직접적으로 경쟁한다.”

Coupled with increases in the "missile defense" budget it is clear that the signals to Russia and China are that the U.S. is not serious about ending the arms race any time soon.

“미사일 방어” 예산 증액과 짝을 이뤄 [이것이] 러시아와 중국에게 보내는 신호가 미국이 무기 경쟁을 언젠가 곧 끝낼 것에 대해 진지하지 않다라는 것은 분명합니다.

It is obvious to me that Obama is trying to buy off Republican support for the very timid nuclear reduction treaty now being negotiated with Russia.

저에게는 오바마가 현재 러시아와 협상되는 매우 소심한 핵감축 조약을 위해 공화당 의원들의 지지를 사려고 한다는 것이 분명합니다.

* See also the site of the Global Network against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space
우주의 무기와 핵을 반대하는 글로벌 넷워크 사이트도 참고하시길.


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* Related article

http://ncronline.org/blogs/road-peace/obama-and-works-death
Obama and the works of death
by John Dear SJ on Feb. 09, 2010
(site informed from Makiko Sato)
오바마와 죽음의 작업
존 디어, 2010년 2월 9일
(사이트는 마키코 사토로부터 정보 제공됨)

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* Related Korean articles

http://blog.ohmynews.com/wooksik/320577
핵협상, 결승점 눈앞에 두고 ‘MD 허들’ 넘을까?
2010년 2월 18일
정욱식, 평화네트워크(www.peacekorea.org) 대표
Nuclear Negotiation, Will It Come Over the ‘MD’ Huddle before the Final?
Feb. 18, 2010
Cheong Wook-Sik (representative, Peace Network, www.peacekorea.org)


http://spark946.org/bugsboard/index.php?BBS=s_conews&action=viewForm&uid=6847&page=1
바이든 "가장 강력한 대북제재..NPT강화 성과"
(워싱턴=연합뉴스, 2010.2.19)
Biden, " The strongest deterrence against North Korea.. accomplishment of the strengthened NPT"
(Washington= Yonhap News, 2010. 2. 19)

[Site Fwd]: Comment on Basic Plan on Space

* Makiko Sato informed the site.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

　　　　　　Contributed comments from
the Global Network aganst Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 　http://www.space4peace.org/


　　　　　　

　　　　　　　　　 Comment on Basic Plan on Space
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　Bruce Gagnon　　　　Main, USA 　　May 11, 2009

I am writing to give the comments from the Global Network Against 　　　Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space　on Japan's “Basic Plan on Space.” 　　　It has come to our attention that the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency 　 　(JAXA) and Lockheed Martin are collaborating on a two-stage rocket 　　　launch　system called GX. 　　　　　 　　　The proposal is to use these rockets at Vandenberg Air Force Base 　　　in California.　 　　　We have much experience at Vandenberg AFB which is a key military 　　　launch center for nuclear weapons, missile defense, and military　satellites. 　　　We know that today the US Air Force has problems finding enough reliable 　　　launch vehicles　for their growing demand for military launches. 　　　Thus, we view the GX rocket as an attempt to get Japan　to help 　　　develop a rocket system to assist the Pentagon in launching military 　　　space missions. 　　　We are aware that the Japanese people are being told that the GX would 　　　be　for “commercial launches” at Vandenberg. 　　　The people of Kodiak Island,　Alaska were told　a similar thing about 10 　　　years ago when a rocket launch center was established on their 　　　environmentally pristine island. 　　　But in fact, since the opening of the Kodiak rocket launch center, 　　　only US military space weapons technology missions have been launched 　　　 from their island. 　　　The military industrial complex in the US　has for many years been saying 　　　that an arms race in space will be the largest industrial project in the 　　　history　of the planet Earth. Thus, the US alone cannot afford to pay for 　　　 this expensive　and dangerously destabilizing program all by itself. 　　　The US　weapons industry　has determined that it must recruit allies to 　　　help pay for this program. We see it as no coincidence that Japan is now 　　　 being brought into the space weapons　arms race program. 　　　The fact that the GX rocket is presently at least five years late in 　　 production, and three-times over budget, indicates clearly that this 　　　space weapons arms race indeed will be the most expensive program in 　　　Earth history. This fact will necessitate cut backs in social spending in 　　　the US and in Japan in order to pay for the insatiable appetite of 　　　space technology programs. 　　　Do the people of Japan know this fact? 　　　Are the people of Japan allowed to discuss this fundamental question of 　　　priorities or has it already been determined that Japan will participate in 　　　this new arms race　without serious and vigorous national debate? 　　　The GX rocket is just the start. 　　 　　　Next will come requests for funding in Japan to pay for expensive 　　　military satellite systems and then for“defensive” space weapons 　　　technologies to protect the “investments in space” from attack by 　　　“enemies”. 　　 　　　That is how arms races begin. 　　　Now is the time for the people of Japan and people all around the world 　　　to speak out strongly to prevent a new arms race from beginning. 　　　 　　　We have this one brief moment in history to prevent this new space 　　　weapons arms race. My hope is that the Japanese government will 　　　reconsider its basic plan on space and instead move to join those 　　　around the world who are working hard to keep space for peace. 　　　In peace, 　　Bruce K. Gagnon 　　Coordinator 　　Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space 　　PO Box652 　　Brunswick, ME　04011 　　globalnet@mindspring.com

Text Fwd: BACT TO SOUTH KOREA AND NEW ARMS RACE

The proposed new "Eco-Friendly" Navy base at Jeju Island in South Korea

The brilliant coral reefs Jeju residents want to protect

* Bruce Gagnon blog
Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009

BACT TO SOUTH KOREA AND NEW ARMS RACE

I leave on October 6-25 for another speaking trip to South Korea. I'll be traveling this time to several cities and near the end of the tour I will be visiting Jeju Island which is just off the southern tip of South Korea, very near the Chinese mainland.

In 2002 the South Korean government announced the intention to build a Naval base on Jeju Island and since that time people have been organizing to stop the construction of the base.

According to one South Korean peace organization (Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea- SPARK), “Setting the Aegis [destroyer] in Jeju Island and operating the ships as an element of constructing an Asian missile defense system is part of the U.S. military program. From the geographical point of view, the naval base in Jeju Island cannot have been anything else but the U.S. missile defense base on the sea. Jeju Island is at the center of conflict structure of northeast Asia in reference to missile defense system. The island is located at the gateway of East Asia. Recently, the strengthening of the U.S.-Japan-Republic of Korea military alliance led by the U.S. is an unstable fact. Under the circumstance, the naval base in Jeju Island would become a stepping-stone for the U.S. navy. It would also be inevitable that Jeju Island would turn to be a focal point of an arms race in Northeast Asia.”

Local protests against the base have even been organized under the ocean in order to show the world the precious coral reefs that would be in danger of destruction from the militarization of their island.

Construction will begin in December and the base is slated to be completed in 2014. The Jeju base will serve as the home port for the Navy's strategic mobile fleet of two Aegis destroyer-led squadrons to be initially operational beginning next year.

The Navy's Aegis combat system, built by Lockheed Martin, is the same missile defense system that Obama has declared he intends to deploy throughout Europe. These Aegis-based missile defense systems will take the place of the controversial systems Obama recently decided not to deploy in Poland and the Czech Republic.

The Korea Times reports:

"Jeju has long been considered a tactical, strategic point to secure southern sea lanes for transporting energy supplies and to conduct mobile operations in the case of an emergency in the region," the Navy official said.

"Following the construction, the Navy will be able to successfully conduct long-range operations to protect our commercial vessels in blue waters, including the Malacca Strait, as well as carry out full-scale operations around the Korean Peninsula," he said.

China imports the majority of its oil through the Malacca Strait and the U.S. strategy is to put in place the ability to choke off this transit route thus giving the Pentagon the ability to control the keys to China’s and the world’s economic engine. The opening of a Navy base, and homeporting Aegis missile defense systems on Jeju Island, will be a major provocation toward China. It will ensure an even larger regional arms race.

Text Fwd: WARS 'R' US

Bruce Gagnon blog
Thursday, September 10, 2009
WARS 'R' US

By now you've likely seen the article explaining how the "United States expanded its role as the world’s leading weapons supplier, increasing its share to more than two-thirds of all foreign armaments deals."

The New York Times reported, "The United States signed weapons agreements valued at $37.8 billion in 2008, or 68.4 percent of all business in the global arms bazaar, up significantly from American sales of $25.4 billion the year before.

"Italy was a distant second, with $3.7 billion in worldwide weapons sales in 2008, while Russia was third with $3.5 billion in arms sales last year — down considerably from the $10.8 billion in weapons deals signed by Moscow in 2007."

Any doubt that "security export" is going to be our role in the global economy in coming years? We won't make clothes, shoes, cars, steel, etc.....we are going to build weapons, invade and occupy other countries, and keep our collective boot on the necks of the people of the world so that we can extract their oil, natural gas, precious mineral resources, their water, and their cheap labor. The US has become the military arm of corporate globalization.

In recent days I've seen several news articles from places like Colorado and New Mexico heralding the "success" of the military takeover of public schools. This is all part of "security export" strategy as we must now funnel working class kids, who will have few other job prospects, into the military. The economic draft is working quite well.....but the public could care less because these are poor and working class kids and they don't count.

This of course indicates that we are not going to be able to stop the US proclivity toward war making unless and until the peace movement and the general public begins to understand and talk more about this new direction for our nation - security export.

What does weapons production and the need for endless war say about the soul of our nation? What does it say about us as a people that we have to continue killing in order to provide jobs so workers can feed their families? How long are we willing to hand over our children to this endless war machine? How can we expect to have peaceful relations with the world as we continue to militarize our culture and foist weapons and conflict on the rest of the world?

What is the peace movement saying about an alternative vision to this security export plan? What is our program for job creation? Why are we not leading on this?

Text Fwd: [PSPD Statement] on the North Korea Nuclear Weapon Test

* People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy
North Korea’s Nuclear Test Drives the Peace of the Korean Peninsula over the Edge Again
2009/05/27

The Korea Central News Agency formally announced today (May 25) that North Korea successfully conducted the second nuclear test. The Center for Peace and Disarmament of the PSPD(People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy) strongly denounces North Korea’s repeated attempts to acquire nuclear weapons and brinkmanship endangering the peace of the Korean Peninsula.

North Korea insists that possession of nuclear weapons contribute to security and peace of the Korean Peninsula. The PSPD firmly disapproves its argument and assertion since weapons of mass destruction will not bring security and peace to Korea and will never be able to sustain the peace.

The PSPD is strongly against development and production of nuclear weapons regardless of who possesses including the US and North Korea and what is the purpose such as attacking, defending or deterring as well as the behind reason for nuclear test done by North Korea is to bring a bilateral dialogue with the US. It is because nuclear weapons fundamentally connote the threats of mass destruction.

North Korea’s nuclear test violates the Declaration on Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. The violation increases uncertainty of its peace and aggravate arms-racing not only in the Korean Peninsula but also in the Northeast Asia. There is no doubt that North Korea is surely aware of the consequences that we, both South and North Korea, are the one who have to bear pain and burden after all.

North Korea’s nuclear test protesting against the US is such an incomprehensible action that neglecting the current situation of the South Korean society whose people are in shock and grief of losing their former president Roh Moohyun.

It is necessary to repeatedly emphasize that resolution of conflict over nuclear issues through dialogues and negotiations and the conversion of the Korean pensinsula towards a peace regime are already agreed by participants of the Six-Party Talks. People are also agreed with this kind of solutions. The Korean government and the US should try harder for peaceful resolution. The North Korean authority must fulfill the correspondent matters as well as the South Korea and the US.

The PSPD urges North Korea to stop extreme confrontation and reckless provocation. It will only make all the efforts for denuclearization and the peace of the Peninsula end in smoke.

2009/05/27 13:29 2009/05/27 13:29

Text Fwd: Statement of International Conference against the Asia Pacific Missile Defense

* Image Source/caption *
Global Network against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space
'Seoul's daily newspaper "The Hankyoreh" covered the visit of conference members to the DMZ - North Korea is in the background'

* Text informed by Bruce Gagnon on Tue, April 21, 2009 *
* Original site: http://blog.peoplepower21.org/English/20818

Statement of International Conference against the Asia Pacific Missile Defense

and for the End of the Arms Race

Seoul, South Korea

April 17, 2009

Here we have come together, facing a new decade in the 21st century where the history of war and strife is being repeated. We are witnessing many countries and regions, having learned nothing from the conflict and hostility-ridden Cold War era, still tenaciously pursue arms buildup. Especially the nation with military hegemony and its many followers, rather than seeking to understand the roots of conflict and finding peaceful resolution, search for new threat and enemy as a means to reinforce their military capabilities, and at times even exaggerate the threat in order to justify their arms buildup.

This is shown by the expansion of military networks and countless military bases around the globe and by the space militarization activities. However, we want to make it clear that this militaristic approach is a worn-out strategy obstructing prevention and peaceful settlement of conflict and a losing hand triggering a vicious cycle of global arms race.

We are especially observant of how the US missile defense system triggers not only space militarization but also unnecessary arms race and political and diplomatic strain between nations. Proposed missile defense installations in Czech Republic and Poland are generating massive public dissent in the region and infuriating Russia to the point of a “new Cold War.”

Planned US missile defense system in the Asia Pacific poses a burden to regional attempts to alleviate Cold War tensions, thereby further provoking confrontation between sea powers and land powers. In the Asia Pacific where the US leads the Asia Pacific missile defense efforts, supported strongly by Japan and Australia, Korea is next in line with its cutting-edge weaponry and a new set of roles. As a result, China, Russia, and North Korea all have expressed enormous opposition, fueling an arms race in the Asia Pacific. Such an arms race also risks undermining the war-renouncing Article 9 of Japan’s peace constitution, a key foundation for peace and security in the Asia-Pacific region.

The controversy over North Korea's long-range rocket launch that has become a key factor in the current tension pervading the Korean Peninsula leaves room for discussion. North Korea's rocket launch should be seen as a byproduct of both a divided Korean peninsula and the arms race in the Asia Pacific. However, this aspect has been ignored. Instead there is exaggerated interpretation of threat and stirring up of security fears, mobilizing the justification for developing a missile defense system in the region. North Korea's long-range rocket launch, on the contrary, reveals the utmost need and urgency for placing confidence building and normalization of relations among nations, as well as cooperative mutual disarmament, on top of our agenda.

Above all, we are aware that the logic behind “absolute security” through the missile defense system does not differ from other aggressive military thinking. Furthermore, the missile defense system is a risky plan which has yet to prove its effectiveness. As a project requiring astronomical costs, the system is based on the logic of unlimited military spending expansion, solely for the benefit of the military-industrial complex. This, we must not forget, sacrifices many resources to be invested for improving the welfare and the quality of life of the many people suffering from economic, public welfare, and environmental crisis.

Many nations and people throughout the world today are suffering from the economic crisis and the climate change. These crises must be taken as opportunities for each country to stop the wasteful arms race and turn its attention to the daily living of its citizens who are taking heavy blows from the economic crisis and the climate change. The development of unnecessary and offensive weapons, including the missile defense system, must be halted first. National security that neglects the safety of the people and community is meaningless.

We, therefore, resolve to act jointly against the missile defense system and the arms race which impede the peace and security of the Korean Peninsula, East Asia, and the international community. We will inform people about the falsehood of the missile defense and the damage caused by the consequent arms race and military conflict. As a member of the international community, we pledge to develop a new peace mechanism starting from where we stand, in our local communities, to bring about peaceful coexistence and conflict resolution in place of military confrontation. We declare we will do our duty and part to turn the coming decade into a period of transformation for overcoming the worn-out military paradigm.

17 April 2009

The Korea Organizing Committee
Global Network against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space
Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict_Northeast Asia

Text Fwd: Pacific Freeze: Arms Race in Asia

Part of the Text Pac Freeze New Letter Issue 1, March 2009
fwd from Bruce Gagnon

http://pacificfreeze.ips-dc.org/call-to-action/
Call to Action

The Asia-Pacific Freeze Campaign: A Call for a Safer, Greener Future

With multiple crises affecting our world – global economy, climate change, resource depletion – we must urgently redirect the hundreds of billions of dollars spent on preparing for war. The United States, Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, and North Korea spent about $970 billion in 2008 on the military. That figure, alarmingly, is on the rise. For about one-tenth of this near-trillion dollar amount – about $90 billion a year – we can achieve more genuine security by eliminating global starvation and malnutrition, educating every child on earth, making clean water and sanitation accessible for all, and reversing the global spread of AIDS and malaria.

With the Asia-Pacific Freeze campaign, we the people of this region call on our governments to freeze military spending and then reduce these budgets on an equitable basis. The savings must be put toward achieving genuine security and a sustainable economy for the future of our planet.

Why these six nations? In Northeast Asia, the largest militaries in the world confront each other. Yet, these countries have also begun to create a peace and security system through the Six Party Talks. In the Joint Statement of September 19, 2005, the countries agreed to the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, the normalization of relations with North Korea, and joint efforts for regional peace and stability. But these efforts, which we endorse, cannot achieve genuine peace in a climate of ever-increasing military budgets. Engaged citizens and social movements must now put military spending on the global agenda and make real our common vision of a peaceful world.

The Asia-Pacific Freeze would not only play an essential role in defusing tensions on the Korean peninsula. It would also be the first step in drawing down mounting tensions between the United States and China. A deep divide is opening up between continental powers (Russia, China, Central Asia) and maritime powers (United States, Japan, Australia). By cooperating on freezing and then reducing military spending, the six countries can help bridge this divide and turn Northeast Asia into a model of peace and sustainable development.

The Freeze and reduction of military spending will also greatly improve the lives and welfare of millions of people in the larger Pacific region who have suffered so much from war, violence, and the social and environmental hazards caused by U.S. military bases.

A regional Freeze and reduction will have global impact, too. The six countries account for 65% of global military spending, with the United States responsible for nearly 50% of the total. In the last five years, every country but Japan has dramatically increased its military spending, and even Japan faces a powerful political movement to abandon its “peace constitution.” The United States and Russia are the top arms exporters in the world, while China is in the top 10. China and South Korea are also leading importers, and Japan’s military budget – though still less than 1% of its GNP – is still among the top five in the world. North Korea devotes a considerable share of its budget to the military. By redirecting the budgets of the leading arms-producing, exporting, and importing nations, an Asia-Pacific Freeze is essential to shrinking the global military-industrial complex.

A freeze on military spending is just the start. Reducing military budgets – as well as freezing arms exports and imports to the region, stopping the construction of new military bases, and halting the construction of new weapons systems – will also be critical components of a collective peace and security system for the region. As the leading military spender, the United States must lead the way with military reductions. We recommend that a portion of the savings go into an Asian Green Fund to help countries in the region address global warming.

As individual countries and as an international community, we have a choice. We can continue on a dangerous path seeking ever-elusive “security” through military might. Or we can choose to address the pressing problems facing us all – global economic crisis, climate change, nuclear proliferation – by no longer wasting our precious resources on preparations for war.

We the undersigned ask you to sign our petition.