The unique challenges brought on by the recent pandemic has brought to light the limitations of closed societies, the resilience of open societies, and the opportunity to reassess what is really important to propel the global community forward. This includes a topic that continues to be of paramount importance to peace and security on a regional and global level: Korean reunification and denuclearization. In a virtual roundtable hosted by Global Peace Foundation, experts from Mongolia and Japan acknowledged the impact of COVID-19, looking back to the two regional states and their historic relationship with the Korean peninsula, and using that knowledge to map a way forward towards peaceful reunification. 

Mongolia shares a common characteristic with Korea, also experiencing division while buffering two powerful neighbors. “After the 1911 revolution Mongolia had two major goals: acquire recognition by the major powers, especially Russia and China, of its independence and unite Mongolians living in Russia, Mongolia and China in a sovereign Mongolia,” explained Dr. Jargalsaikhan Enkhsaikhan, Chairman of Blue Banner and Former Mongolian Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

“The question was whether the two neighbors would agree to that. China was against recognizing Mongolia as an independent country, while Russia was supportive of Mongolia’s independence, seeing it as a buffer between it and China. As a result of nearly three decades of Mongolia’s active policy and Russia’s security interests, the 1945 Yalta agreement recognized Mongolia’s de facto status quo, confined within its de facto borders, and Mongolia recognized the Yalta agreement. In 1949 the People’s Republic of China recognized Mongolia and established diplomatic relations. Since then Mongolia promotes broad people-to-people ties with its northern and southern brethren as well as economic and cultural relations with them.”

“In Korea at least the great powers agree on the goal of unification, although each one has its own interest and vision of unified Korea. Hence there is hope for reunification. None of these powers is saying ‘no.’”

Northeast Asia Nuclear Weapons-Free Zone

Ambassador Jargalsaikhan Enkhsaikhan, Chairman of Blue Banner and former Mongolian Permanent Representative to the United Nations, addresses an international forum on Korean unification in 2018.

Another issue addressed at the forum was on the topic of nuclear weapons in Northeast Asia (NEA). According to a study conducted by one of the forum partners on the most effective way of denuclearizing the Korean peninsula, it was concluded that a bold conceptual approach was needed, meaning defensive, sole-purpose use of nuclear weapons and reviewing the nuclear umbrella doctrine in Northeast Asia. 

“Denuclearizing the Korean peninsula needs to be addressed bearing in mind the security and development interests of the entire region, and the economic interest of the DPRK itself,” Dr. Enkhsaikhan said. “Establishing a NEA nuclear-weapon-free zone consisting of the territories of two Koreas and Japan, and providing the DPRK, ROK and Japan with legally based security assurances by the U.S., Russia and China (the P3) would benefit these three zonal states.

A credible ‘mini Marshall Plan’ [for the DPRK] could be a win-win solution for the Korean peninsula as well as for overall regional security and development. Dr. Enkhsaikhan continued:

“Japan and ROK would benefit from security assurances of Russia and China, while the DPRK would acquire a legally based U.S. security assurance since as per NWFZ practice, the P3 would have to sign a protocol on security assurances that needed to be ratified by their respective legislatures. Moreover, Russia’s and China’s participation in providing security assurances would provide additional guarantees to the DPRK that the U.S. assurance to the DPRK would be honored both politically and legally. In that, United Nations Security Council can play an important role.”

Recent inter-Korean and DPRK-US summits have shown that there is a political interest in denuclearizing the Korean peninsula, yet “the devil is always in details.” The speakers noted that working-level negotiations should aim more seriously toward denuclearization of the entire Korean peninsula rather than demanding almost unilateral denuclearization of the DPRK first or applying political and economic “maximum pressures.” 

Japanese perspectives on Korean Unification

Dr. Sachio Nakato, professor of International Relations at Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto, discusses Korean unification at the 2019 Global Peace Convention is Seoul.

Dr. Sachio Nakato, professor of International Relations at Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto, said his personal view is that unification is necessary and Japan should support it. “Unfortunately many people, most scholars, believe Japan is not interested in unification,” he said.

But what kind of unification is preferable for Japan, especially the Japanese government? Nakato said that a liberal democratic government without nuclear weapons would be welcomed by Japan. Japan also prefers that a unified Korea retain an alliance with the United States, and trilateral cooperation is most preferable. “North Korea may not like this idea, but this is an ideal path for unification from Japan’s perspective.” He cautioned that a unified Korea with over-weighted ties to China would be a matter of great concern for Japan. 

“Denuclearization is a most important issue, but from North Korea’s perspective, denuclearization is not simply a challenge to the DPRK but to the entire Korean peninsula. When you talk about denuclearization and include South Korea, is this acceptable to the United States? The Singapore Declaration only directed the nuclear issue toward the DPRK, with no mention of the South. A nuclear-free zone as presented by Dr. Enkhsaikhan is a promising idea. It is a question of trust of all countries, including the United States. 

Commenting on the presentations, Dr. Jai Ryu, founder of the One Korea Foundation, said the pandemic has provided a reset, time to think about the pandemic impact, implications of the election of the Moon government and talk about a peace treaty and questioning the need of American troops, as well as discussions about a “federation” of Korea.

Dr. Ryu also noted a significant change in American public opinion with respect to China. “The way that China has operated during the pandemic has influenced Americans who now see the difference between Chinese people and the communist party,” he said.

Ambassador Tsedendamba Batbayar, Editor-in-Chief of the Mongolian Journal of International Affairs, said the coronavirus exposed weakness and strengths of closed and open societies. “In open societies information was transparent and available everywhere,” he said. “But in a closed society like North Korea, information was restricted and not shared with the outside world. The pandemic exposed different leadership styles, and all countries will need to rethink national preparedness.”

The peaceful reunification of the Korean peninsula has and continues to not only be an option but a favorable goal for many who work towards peace and security in Northeast Asia. The Korean Dream of a free, united, and independent Korea that benefits the world is the answer to so many social, economic, and security issues that have pervaded the region. Now is the time for the Korean Dream.

 

The original post appears on Global Peace Foundation. Global Peace Foundation is an international non-sectarian, non-partisan, nonprofit organization, which promotes an innovative, values-based approach to peacebuilding, guided by the vision of One Family under God.  GPF engages and organizes a global network of public and private-sector partners who develop community, national, and regional peace building models as the foundation for ethical and cohesive societies. Dr. Hyun Jin Preston Moon is founder and chairman of the Global Peace Foundation.

The post United Korea: Japan and Mongolia Perspectives appeared first on Hyun Jin Preston Moon.

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.

The post Japan-Korea Relations and Korean Unification appeared first on Hyun Jin Preston Moon.

14-Mar-2013 | www.globalpeace.org

Top left: A ceremony designating Paseban as an All Lights Village; top right: presenting a hand-painted eco-bag; bottom: children sing the Indonesiannational anthem at the arrival of the Japanese delegation.

Ten delegates representing GPFF Japan arrived at Jakarta International Airport in Indonesia on January 28, the first stop on a journey to the village of Paseban in the mountainous region of Mega Mendung, some 70 kilometers south of Jakarta, to present the remote community with a gift of solar-powered lanterns.

Jakarta had just recovered from a flood inundation that displaced 20,000 people. Cancellation of the tour was imminent, but the state of emergency ended on January 27. Delegates were then blessed with good weather and moved on to a hotel in Puncak, Bogor, where they met with GPF Indonesia Foundation’s staff and volunteers on the following day.

On January 29, the Japanese delegation and local volunteers traversed the rugged terrain outside of the historic city of Bogor and arrived in Paseban by mid afternoon. Village leader Entis and 50 families welcomed them, and children sang the Indonesian national anthem in their honor. The unveiling ceremony of All Lights Village sign board drew general applause, and Paseban was confirmed as a new All Lights Village.

Joining as sisters 

Top: GPF Japan President Mr. Aya Goto thanks
villagers for the warm welcome; middle and
bottom: solar-powered lanterns were presented to
villagers, who have limited access to electricity in
their homes.

As part of a sisterhood accord between the Japanese and Indonesian families, each Japanese volunteer was partnered with a group of families, and the Japanese guests visited each family’s home.

Houses in Paseban are made simply of wood, with walls of weaved bamboo. The furnishings are spare, with little other than mats for sleeping. With the village depending only on hydroelectric generators, people use only very small light bulbs in their homes, which are insufficient for their daily living.  When the river doesn’t produce enough current to run the generator, villagers are left without electricity.

Villagers explained that it takes more than an hour for children to walk around the mountain side to attend classes, and when raining, children cannot go to school.  Due to these difficult conditions some parents don’t have the means to enable their children to attend school.

Following home visits, the village leader again formally welcomed the visiting delegates, expressing deep appreciation for their support, especially their effort to travel to a rural village in Indonesia.

Representing the Indonesia’s largest Muslim organization, Nahdulatul Ulama (NU), NU Bogor Chairman KH Romdon told the guests, “I am feeling ashamed because the Japanese people came to know the situation of this village and decided to support it earlier than I myself. I will support the village for its development together with GPF.  For this purpose, I promised that NU will provide scholarships to your children to study at NU’s Islamic schools.”

GPFF Japan Chairman Mr. Aya Goto responded that the delegates deeply appreciated the heartwarming welcome. He said the All Lights Village Project aids in community development through providing Solar-Powered LED Lights to help children study even after sunset.  He said that GPFF Japan believes that this light in the home will be a light of hope.

Mr. Goto added that Japan actually owes a lot to Indonesia at the time of the earthquake and tsunami disasters two years ago. “Indonesia took immediate action to contribute to the disaster relief operations,” he said. “It is a custom among Japanese people that when they receive something, they thankfully give something back in return.”

Entrepreneurship

The region of Puncak where the village is located is a resort area where wealthy Indonesians and foreigners own villas.  However the poor villages surrounding the resort areas have sometimes serious social problems, such as hidden human trafficking related to arranged marriages in which poor families give their daughters in return for a meager monetary support. Therefore, livelihood and entrepreneurship programs are critical to enhance economic opportunity.

Top left: Ms. Halimah Munawi, who is supporting women in the area through craft training; top right: KH Romdon, NU Bogor Chairman; below: Japan delegates meet with NU Secretary General K.H. Marsudi Syuhud.

Another supporter, business owner and writer Ms. Halimah Munawi, recently finished a community center in Tarikolot, a village near the All Lights Village site, which can accommodate 100 people. Women learn for bamboo-crafting to provide a livelihood, and Ms. Munawi agreed to sponsor an entrepreneurship program in the Alllights Village as well.

At a welcome dinner at the Bogor region’s government building, Secretary Hj. Nurhayanti, speaking on behalf of the governor, told the delegates, “Community development requires enough provision of electricity. There are many areas which don’t have ample electricity.  I appreciate the Japanese volunteers to their support in communities for providing the LED lights.”

On Jan. 30, delegates attended an exchange program at Trisakti Institute of Tourism, which has been supporting GPF international programs since 2010.  They later visited Nahdulatul Ulama headquarters building and met with Secretary General K.H. Marsudi Syuhud and three ministers, who shared about NU’s vision and programs.

NU was founded in 1926 and is the largest Islamic organization in the world, currently with 70 million members and more than 210,000 schools.  NU also has branches in Japan as well as other major countries.   “NU envisions building a peace beyond any differences,” Secretary General Marsudi told the guests, adding that NU’s schools will never produce even one Islam extremist.  “Wherever you go in Indonesia,” he said, “I promise that NU leaders will support you.”

The All Lights Village Project Support Tour provided LED lights to all families in Paseban Village in Bogor, Indonesia.  Through the tour, GPF and GPF partners were able to deepen the commitment to support community development.  GPF Indonesia Foundation plans to monitor and evaluate the development of the village with university support.

This article was originally posted on www.globalpeace.org

 

The post Japan All Lights Village Project Brings Light, Learning to Indonesia Village appeared first on Hyun Jin Preston Moon.

I believe that is why we are here in this nation of Japan. If the Japanese people once again can capture a sense of destiny, Japan is positioned to accomplish great things.

June 1 – 2, 2012

Tokyo, Japan –

The Global Peace Leadership Conference in Japan posed the question, “What type of leadership does this nation of Japan need at this critical time.”  It was an important opportunity to address the historic and recent past, and look forward to the future of Japan and the surrounding communities in Northeast Asia and the Pan-Pacific Rim.  Here is the first part of four segments of his address.

Moral and Innovative Leadership for Japan

Esteemed guests, illustrious speakers, we are truly standing in a historic moment. What we do today will determine the future of not only this nation’s destiny, but the destiny of the Asian continent, and the world.

This nation is blessed with a great gift, its people. They have been the bedrock, the foundation of this nation.

The ancestors of this nation transformed this nation from a feudal state into a modern state within one generation. In the latter part of the 19^th century, it became the only Asian nation that was recognized as a world power by European. Sadly, there were unspeakable tragedies that took place. But it does not point to the fundamental character of the Japanese people. They were misled.

The fundamental essence of the Japanese is captured by how they lifted themselves up from its war torn remains. The people pulled Japan up to be, at one time, the second largest economy and how the third largest economy in the world. This nation has always been a nation with a sense of purpose, a sense of direction, a sense of destiny.

Yet, as a fellow panelist pointed out in his remarks, recently there has been such a rapid transfer of political leadership in Japan. Even diplomats from foreign countries do not know who the next leader of Japan will be.

This nation seems to be adrift on the sea without its original sense of purpose, sense of direction, sense of destiny. It does not know how it will make its mark in the future, not only for its own people, but for Asia and the world. How can such a nation with such a proud legacy be a nation today that is adrift in the world with no sense of direction and purpose?

I believe that is why we are here in this nation of Japan. If the Japanese people once again can capture a sense of destiny, Japan is positioned to accomplish great things.

The challenge was posited by the same panelist and professor that leaders need to step up and set a new precedent for a national destiny that encompasses the greater global community. I would like to challenge esteemed Japanese leaders and scholars to think out of the box.

Rope off your platforms to a vision that recognizes our common humanity and the common destiny of Japanese, North and South Koreans, the people of Northeast Asia and the world. Let us build a better future for our entire human family. This is the sense of purpose, direction, and destiny that can inspire our children, and allow our grandchildren to see peace that we have so yearned for.

That is my challenge to you. I hope that your deliberations and your conviction and ownership can bring about tremendous hope for the future of humanity.

A Vision that Gives Life Meaning and Direction

International and Japanese leaders gathered to work across nationality, ethnicity and religion to deliberate on how to secure a peaceful and prosperous Japan and world.

The Global Peace Festival Foundation is inspired by the vision to establish one family under God. It is a vision that I have taken around every continent of the world. It has inspired millions of people regardless of their faith traditions, nationality, ethnic backgrounds, race or political orientation.

It is a message that allows humanity to cherish the most sacred relationships that we experience – those sacred relationships that can only be intimated as familial relationships. Think about it. When we talk about our most intimate relationships, we refer to them in familial terms. As human beings, we cherish those relationships more than any other. If there is a mentor, a great teacher, that person is like your father, like your mother. If you have a great friend, your best friend, you say that person is like your brother, like your sister. If you have some young person in which you see great potential and that you have tremendous love and affection for, you refer to that young person as your son or your daughter, because the most intimate of relationships that we experience as human beings is within the familial realm.

We all come from the same source. And yet, we create a lot of pretensions. We create our religious pretensions, we create our national pretensions, we create our racial and ethnic pretensions. These walls and barriers that separate humanity do not recognize our common humanity. At the end of the day, if we look back on our lives from our deathbed, and ask, “Did those pretensions make my life that much more meaningful? Did they give my life more purpose? Did they give a greater sense of how to contribute to humanity?” The answer will be, “No.”

When we truly reflect on our own existence we will realize that we are truly one family. And we will find that we are given the gift of life to make a contribution, however large or small, to the progress of humanity and to a world of peace. This is the legacy we leave to our children, our grandchildren, and our great grandchildren.

A Spiritually Rooted Approach to Peace

This vision of one family under God is rooted in a spiritual providence. It recognizes that there have been many efforts to establish peace in the past.

Panelist Dr. Kaseda from Kitakyushu University and Dr. Moon exchange thoughts on the essential components of leadership.

One of the most notable is the United Nations. It was founded after the travesty of World War II. Nations on multiple continents were devastated. The United Nations to help rebuild. It was founded on the noble notion of world peace, to save succeeding generations from having to face the “scourge of war” again.  They chose to deal with the issues of peace from a political, social, economic, and diplomatic framework.

And yet one conflict after another arose, and still the world chose to deal with those same issues from a diplomatic, economic, political, social, and yet still conflicts arose again.

My father has presented a proposal to change our paradigm of peace. It is that peace cannot be achieved without considering the most fundamental part of humanity, its spiritual dimension. It is in this dimension that humanity has found the capacity to love, to live for the sake of others, and to show compassion, forgiveness. It is the spirit that gives humanity the strength and vision to see beyond petty trivialities. It is the spirit that allows humanity to find its nobility, divinity and dignity. It is the spirit that enables us to envision and embody peace.

The vision of one family under God recognizes that other dimensions of peace are important.  Yet, it fundamentally recognizes and highlights the spiritual dimension of humanity.

Japan’s Future and the Future of Northeast Asia

As a Korean and as a U.S. citizen, I would like to suggest what that would look like.

The greatest threat to Northeast Asian peace is the situation on the Korean peninsula. My parents are from North Korea. For my family and other Koreans, the war that started 60 years ago never ended. This civil conflict was imposed on the Korean people by larger geopolitical dimensions. Communism and democracy clashed on my peninsula. And the Korean people have suffered greatly for it.

Countless Korean families were displaced and separated. To this day, the 38^th parallel that separates the two Koreas divides the Korean people. In modern history, a civil war has never lasted this long.

There is a great American statesman who lead the United States through a time of civil war back into union—Abraham Lincoln. He explained to his fellow countryman that a house divided cannot stand. He spoke of a shared destiny, a common destiny of one, not two Americas.

The story of the Korean people should also be a story not of a house divided, but a house united.

The state of North Korea poses tremendous challenges to the region of Northeast Asia. Yet, imagine if, the Korean people took the lead in the process of reunification to embrace and bring in the people of the North? What if North and South Korea become one united Korea that stands as a leader and advocate for peace and unity in this region?

What would that mean for the stability and peace for Japan? What would that mean for the stability and peace of Northeast Asia? A united Korea would set a precedent that would give hope and inspiration for many nations that face potential conflict and challenges to development.

Japan has an opportunity to heal a painful past. If Japan can step up to help bring together the Korean people, both those who live upon the shore of Japan and those who live on the divided peninsula, the gratitude the Korean people will drown out all the resentment and bitter feeling that was left from a conflict that happened decades ago. This will set the moral foundation upon which Japan can stand to contribute to the peace process in Northeast Asia.

Such conviction and ownership can bring about tremendous blessings to humanity in the future.

The post Dr. Moon’s address at the Global Peace Leadership Conference, Tokyo Japan 2012 appeared first on Hyun Jin Preston Moon.

I have also had the privilege to work with many wonderful Japanese volunteers who carry the trademark traits of hard work and commitment. Japan has invested its people and resources into its global family.

Some in the international community observe that Japan has the role of a mother to the other nations of the world. If that is true, then this nation should play a leading role in creating a culture of multi-ethnic coexistence that affirms that we are all one family with a shared spiritual heritage and shared destiny.

This is also an important domestic priority. For most of Japan’s history, it has had relatively little influence from other peoples and religions.But today the situation is very different. More than two million foreign residents live permanently in Japan, and the number is growing all time.

Already Japan has taken steps in this direction to realize the culture of peace. During my travels to the developing regions of the world, I have seen Japanese financial and technical aid playing a vital role in building up these countries. I have also had the privilege to work with many wonderful Japanese volunteers who carry the trademark traits of hard work and commitment. Japan has invested its people and resources into its global family.

Japan has recently faced many trials, including the most recent natural disasters. The world’s response shows that her investment in the world is not unnoticed. The world came to her aid, just as she invested in it.

I pray that Japan continues to become a model nation that spreads the culture of peace throughout the world.

The post Japan: Creating A Culture of Multi-ethnic Coexistence appeared first on Hyun Jin Preston Moon.