As Korea prepared to celebrate the 70th year of the end of WWII, there was much speculation over the content of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s August 15th message.

Shinzo Abe bows in front of the Peace Prayer statue in Nagasaki. It is expected he will include the word ‘apology’ in an anniversary statement later this week. Photograph: Kimimasa Mayama/EPA

China’s foreign ministry released a statement that it expected a “clear and correct message about the nature of the war and its responsibility for it.” The avid interest in Abe’s remarks indicates an opening out of decades of mutual disregard and, at times, open hostility between Japan and both China and Korea.

70 years after the end of WWII, Japan, South Korea and China have prospered as well as endured economic stagnation, usually attempting to exist independent of the others, cooperating only when it was of clear benefit to national interests.

Yet, cooperation among the three countries has economic, social, technological, cultural, scientific and especially regional security benefits. Even beyond the threat of a nuclear North Korea, China’s growing military might and Japan’s move towards “collective self-defense” speaks to the real and present dangers in Northeast Asia.

In an effort to move beyond and away from this pattern, Japan can take the lead into easing tensions for the region as a whole by focusing on larger regional interests. The foreword to the Japanese edition of the Korean Dream encourages the Japanese government and people to support and pursue Korean unification:

It is hoped that the nations of Japan and Korea and their people can bring closure to those issues that still tie us to the past and work together for the future peace and prosperity for the entire Northeast region. For a Korea unified on the basis of universal principles and shared values would free Japan from the current nuclear and missile threat and open the door for greater trade and investment as well.

There is a large population of Koreans from the two Koreas living in Japan and there are numerous opportunities to engage in talks on the vision, principles and values that can contribute to reunification of Korea.

Japanese business, political, social and even humanitarian interactions with both North and South Korea can have a bigger impact when guided by a larger vision of supporting Korean unification and Northeast Asia cooperation. Efforts to help Korea and the region will undoubtedly help both countries move beyond past resentments.

Moderator Victor Cha, Korea Chair of CSIS with forum panelists.

On July 7th in Washington DC, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and the Global Peace Foundation hosted the last of a five-part series examining key themes presented in Dr. Moon’s book, “Korean Dream: A Vision for a Unified Korea.” The final forum focused on Japan-Korea relations and the need for Japan to actively engage in Korean reunification.

The Chosun Times reported that:

A majority also [feels] that Japan does not contribute significantly to peace on the Korean Peninsula and promoting reunification. Some 53.9 percent said Japan actually hinders stability on the peninsula, even more than North Korea’s staunch ally China, which 42.1 percent see as an obstacle, and Russia at 37.9 percent.”

Sheila Smith of the Council of Foreign Relations proposed that Japan is undergoing “Korea fatigue,” due to ongoing demonstrations over resentments over Japan’s colonization. Michael Auslin of the American Enterprise Institute said that Japan would likely be positive about Korean unification, but cautious, clearly endorsing a unified Korea that sustains democratic values.

Clearly, the best way to ensure that this happens is to be a part of the process.

The experts at the forum were hopeful, emphasizing that cooperation based on mutual concerns such as regional security, health and economic development could serve as the foundation for improved relations, as well as grassroots civil engagement and education.

Smith referred to Kim Dae-jung’s appeal to view Korea-Japan relations from a wider lens, observing that the 20th century was just a small moment in the long history of Japan and Korean relations. “No leader since has done that,” said Smith, stressing the need for serious political leadership in both countries to establish a forward-looking vision of their relationship.

Korean reunification is one that reaches well beyond the scope of Korea and the Korean people. The global community – from Japan, China, Russia and beyond – would do well to recognize this and actively support the process.

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“Up until now, every discussion on unification has been consumed with the “process” of unification, usually seen through the lens of Cold War geo-politics and interests…I believe such a framework only exacerbates the social, political and economic divide between the two Koreas, making any sincere efforts for unification next to impossible. The real issue is whether we, as the Korean people, have a clear vision for unification.” -Dr. Hyun Jin Moon, Korean Dream

Panelists and speakers at a forum hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies and the Global Peace Foundation were cautiously optimistic about changing dynamics between Russia and the two Koreas. The forum is the fourth part of a series on Korean Unification.

“Russia is strongly interested in better relations between North and South Korea,” Dr. Alexander Zhebin, director of the Center for Korean Studies at the Institute for Far Eastern Studies in Moscow

“Russia is strongly interested in better relations between North and South Korea,” said Dr. Alexander Zhebin, director of the Center for Korean Studies at the Institute for Far Eastern Studies in Moscow and 12-year diplomat and journalist to North Korea. “Economic cooperation will help to develop the DPRK economy, to make the North Koreans more prepared to live in a modern society. In other words, it will help to lessen the existing gap between two parts of the country and cut unification’s cost.”

Dr. Andrew Kuchins, senior fellow and director of CSIS’s Russia and Eurasia Program also sees the budding economic relationships in Eurasia as a positive force for Korean reunification. “The fundamentally important thing happening on the Eurasian continent is connectivity and how to take advantage of new transit corridors, and this is where unification and a soft landing of the Korean conflict is important.”

Panelists at a forum hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies and the Global Peace Foundation expressed reserved optimistic about developing relations between Russia and the two Koreas

However, Dr. Gilbert Rosman, emeritus Musgrave Professor of sociology at Princeton University and senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, advised caution, saying that a purely economic approach fails to consider the underlying ideological challenges.  He said it was impractical to expect that economic incentives would make North Korea “turn around and become a responsible state that may eventually be de-nuclearized”.

Nevertheless, Russia’s strengthened economic ties with the Republic of Korea as well and its continued relations with the DPRK point to a changing landscape in the post-cold war era, and opens new opportunities for connection between North and South Korea.

Yet whether unification eventually materializes is contingent on the Korean people and their will to embrace a shared destiny.

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A recent forum hosted by the Center for International and Strategic Studies and the Global Peace Foundation highlighted South Korea’s growing role in global humanitarian development. In less than 50 years, South Korea has transitioned from a aid-receiving nation to and aid-providing nation. It’s exceptional story of economic development has been considered a new model for many emerging nations.

Below is the report posted on the Global Peace Foundation.

Posted on March 18, 2015

South Korea’s growing international development experience will hold important lessons in any future scenario of unification with North Korea, Ambassador Young-mok Kim, president of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), told a Washington D.C. forum on March11.

 Amb. Kim said that the experience in assisting less-developed countries with health, education, and infrastructure projects provided lessons that would prove invaluable in assisting the economically backward North in the future. Per capita GDP in South Korea is 30-40 times greater than that in the North.

He said that KOICA’s work in former communist countries such as Laos and Cambodia could prove especially helpful as they showed North Korea a model for transition. Amb. Kim was speaking at a forum, “The United States, South Korea and Civil Society Cooperation in Global Humanitarian Development,” jointly sponsored by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and Global Peace Foundation. KOICA is now active in over 100 countries.

“This may be the first time Korea has introduced its work for global development in Washington,” D.C., Amb. Kim said.  He described Korea’s dynamic transition from an aid recipient with a per capita GDP in 1953 of $73 to an official donor country. In the fifty years after 1945 Korea received $12 billion in international aid, 44 percent of which came from the U.S.

“Many developing nations consider Korea an exemplary model for development. They are attracted by its focus on grassroots rural community development.”

KOICA volunteers have worked together around the world with the Peace Corps.

KOICA has close working arrangements with the U.S. Peace Corps (above) as well as with USAID and UN agencies to support projects in 130 countries.

But Korea also learned to help itself, not only through a growing industrial sector in the 1970s but also through the Saemaul Undong or “New Village Movement.” This encouraged enterprise and self-reliance in rural communities. It balanced development there with the advances in the urban industrial sector and helped to limit income inequality.

The Korean experience of growth is one that many developing nations are now anxious to learn from. “Many developing nations consider Korea an exemplary model for development,” Amb. Kim said. “Over 30 countries are planning to adopt Saemaul Undong,” he continued. They are attracted by its focus on grassroots rural community development.

Jon Brause, director of the World Food Program’s (WFP) D.C. office, added that Korea’s unique development experience, which includes a strong civil society element, is being recognized by other countries. “Korea gives nations the confidence to say ‘We can do it too.’” WFP has partnered with KOICA for 51 years. They are currently cooperating to implement Saemaul Undong in several African countries.

Amb. Kim stressed the importance of public and private partnerships for KOICA and for successful development work in general. Although KOICA does not work directly in North Korea it cooperates closely with a number of UN agencies that are active there and helps facilitate their work. KOICA also has close working arrangements on many projects with the U.S. agencies, USAID and the U.S. Peace Corps.In the private sphere, “KOICA is very keen to seek for innovative partnerships with prestigious global NGOs and foundations that will bring far-reaching impact,” he said. Domestically, KOICA has worked with civil society groups for 20 years to leverage resources and experience. It is engaged with 130 civil society partners. In 2013, Korea’s non-profit sector raised $3.8 billion to support 1,400 projects in 103 countries.

Such partnerships, public and private, domestic and international, would prove vital, said Amb. Kim, in “helping countries in transition or in transformation to succeed and finally achieve democracy and prosperity.”

For original story and program visit: www.globalpeace.org

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(left to right): Dr. Victor Cha, Korea Chair, Center for Strategic and International Studies, Ambassador Bulgaa Altengerel, Ambassador of Mongolia to the United States, Dr. Tsedendamba Batbayar, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mongolia, Ambassador Mark C. Minton, President, The Korea Society.

A forum co-hosted by the Global Peace Foundation and the Center for Strategic and International Studies examined Mongolia’s possible role in cultivating relations on the Korean peninsula. Dr. Victor Cha, the Korea Chair at CSIS, said, “We don’t usually think of Mongolia in the context of peninsular diplomacy.”  Yet, Dr. Cha added, diplomatic attempts through the Six-Party talks have begun to sound like the same record, playing over the same issues without progress. In light of indicators like the speech made by President Elbegdorj of Mongolia at Kim Il Sung University last October promoting fundamental human rights and freedoms, Dr. Cha expressed that perhaps it is timely to explore the potential of Mongolian engagement.

The forum  on “Mongolia’s Diplomacy with the Two Koreas” on December 3 drew experts from the United States and Mongolia, including the current Ambassador of Mongolia to the United States, Ambassador Bulgaa Altengerel, Dr. Tsedendamba Batbayar from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia and Ambassador Mark C. Minton, President of The Korea Society. Dr. Cha moderated the proceedings.

The Global Peace Foundation has been a long-time advocate for the inclusion of Mongolia as an essential player in securing Northeast Asian Peace, particularly the with the situation on the Korean peninsula. In the summer of 2011, prior to the Global Peace Convention held at the end of the year in Seoul that focused on issue of Korean unification, Dr. Moon visited Mongolia for a Global Peace Leadership Conference and the celebration of the Hun people.

In his opening remarks Dr. Moon made a case for Mongolia’s involvement:

Mongolia’s role is crucial. Unlike the participants of the Six Party Talks which have been polarized with vested historic, ideological, and strategic interests, Mongolia is a friend to all those participants with no vested interests besides the desire to broker good will, dialogue and cooperation. In addition, it has diplomatic relations and open contacts with both Koreas. Thus, given the current impasse and possibility of future disagreements down the road, Mongolia can play a unique role that countries like the United States, Japan, China and Russia could not fulfill. It is well-suited for an emerging role in developing innovative initiatives and best practices for reconciliation and development in the region, because of its historical background and geopolitical position as well as its own recent experiences.

The Mongolian people have a rich and proud history, a strong spiritual heritage, and deep family traditions. Mongolia is now poised to play a unique role as a leader for global peace.”

Ambassador Altengerel mentioned regional peacemaking efforts spearheaded by Mongolia such as the Mongolian president’s Ulaanbaatar Dialogue on Northeast Asian Security, a diplomatic initiative that pulls scholars and researchers together, and a conference on regional security was held last June in the Mongolian capital on the theme “Energy, Infrastructure, and Regional Connectivity.”

The forums are a series co-organized by the Global Peace Foundation and the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The next one is scheduled for February examining the impact of humanitarian aid in North-South Korean relations.

Read the comprehensive report, MONGOLIA-ROK COOPERATION URGED ON NORTH KOREA ENGAGEMENT, here at Global Peace Foundation.

Find Dr. Moon’s full address delivered at the Global Peace Leadership Conference in Ulanbatuur, Mongolia in 2011 here.

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