Women Cross DMZ logo
  • Follow us on Twitter
  • Like us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Instagram
  • Follow us on YouTube
  • Newsletter
  • Donate
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Our Team
    • Our Supporters
    •   — What Experts Say
    • 2015 Crossing
    • Contact Us
  • What We Do
  • News
    • Contact
    • Press Releases
    • General News
    • In the Media
    • Annual Reports
    • Videos
  • Resources
  • Take Action
  • Crossings
  • Events
  • Back to list of news

A Roadmap for Peace in Korea in 2023

March 6, 2023 

Posted in: Newsletters

 

Dear friend,

In case you missed last week’s webinar, “Laying Out a Roadmap for Peace in Korea in 2023,” you can watch the video here:


Here’s a recap:

The Current Context

  • Escalating tensions and heightened risk of war

  • North Korea shifted strategy from nuclear no first use to first use (if attacked or if war or attack is imminent); ICBMs can deliver nuclear warheads that can reach anywhere in the US

  • South Korea shifted strategy from deterrence to preemption and first strike; massive increase in military spending

  • US strategy of “extended deterrence” (tailored deterrence) — threatening to use nuclear weapons against North Korea => North Korea preparing countermeasures

  • Japan adopted new security policy — pursuing counterstrike capability (prompted by NK’s development of nuclear and missile capabilities); increasing military capabilities and spending; Japan planning to upgrade its missile systems

  • Korean Peninsula caught in the middle of the US-China great-power competition

  • US and South Korea ramping up joint military exercises this month

  • North Korea increased testing of long-range missiles last year; says they will never give up nuclear weapons — but Kim Jong Un said if the situation on the Peninsula changes, then his policy on nuclear weapons can change (leaves open the possibility of engaging North Korea in diplomacy)

The Korean War

  • US is important party to the Korean War and remains so

  • All of this is happening because they are entangled in the Korean War => they are preparing for new war

  • 1953 armistice ceased fighting, but lack of formal end to the war

  • Consequences of unresolved war include never-ending arms race and separation of families

US-North Korea Negotiations

  • Past US approaches failed to address North Korea’s security concerns

  • US-North Korea negotiations at a standstill

  • Congress has never been involved in peace negotiations

Peace on the Korean Peninsula Act

  • Calls for diplomacy with North Korea to formally end the Korean War, a comprehensive review of travel restrictions to North Korea, and the establishment of liaison offices in the US and North Korea

  • Reintroduced by Rep. Brad Sherman and 19 original co-sponsors — first time a bill on peace in Korea has been reintroduced. Has bipartisan support

  • In the last Congress, 46 members of Congress supported the bill (mostly Democrats and a Republican)

  • Success largely due to the efforts of grassroots Korea peace movement

  • Congressional support is critical to build support for a long-lasting peace agreement

  • Important for ending the war, but potential to defuse current crisis and instability and open space for diplomacy for peace and denuclearization

Key Takeaways

  • Escalation reaching dangerous phase

  • Current crisis is a manifestation of the unresolved war and symptom of illness; the illness is the Korean War

  • In order to solve the current crisis, we need to solve the illness => end the Korean War

  • Unresolved war also has human consequences (separated families)

  • Diplomacy with North Korea is possible

  • This is a symbolic year for Korea peace (July 27 marks the 70th anniversary of the signing of the armistice)

  • The Peace on the Korean Peninsula Act can help build the political will for peace with North Korea

  • Grassroots Korea peace movement is shifting the narrative on this issue

What You Can Do

  • Contact your Representative and ask them to co-sponsor the Peace on the Korean Peninsula Act. Take action here.

  • Join our national mobilization for peace in Korea this July. Sign up here.

  • Sign up to host a watch party of the documentary Crossings about Women Cross DMZ’s historic journey from North to South Korea in 2015 and our work to end the Korean War. Sign up here.

Share this:

  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email

Contact us

© 2025 Women Cross DMZ
Privacy Policy

 

Women Cross DMZ
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Our Team
    • Our Supporters
    •   — What Experts Say
    • 2015 Crossing
    • Contact Us
    • Back
  • What We Do
  • News
    • Contact
    • Press Releases
    • General News
    • In the Media
    • Annual Reports
    • Videos
    • Back
  • Resources
  • Take Action
  • Crossings
  • Events