2016: North Korea's Launch of Kwangmyongsong-4
North Korean Nuclear Test (Hydrogen Bomb Test; 6.1.2016) and Missile Launch (7.2.2016)
Statement as PDF
Statement
Concerning North Korea's Launch of Kwangmyongsong-4
The Reconciliation and Reunification Committee of the National Council of Churches (NCCK) expresses a deep regret on North Korea’s launch of Kwangmyongsong-4 on February 7 as it will heighten on the Korean soil the arms race among super powers and eventually threaten peace and stability in North East Asia. We are also greatly concerned that in the present situation the South and the US are jumping into the decision to deploy on the Korean peninsula the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) and establish a KOR-US-JAPAN Missile Defense system in response to the launch of Kwangmyuongsung-4 earth observation satellite.
1. We oppose the deployment of THAAD on the Korean peninsula.
The THAAD deployment will only increase the possibility of military conflict and clash beyond the Korean peninsula, in the entire North East Asia region. China and Russia are strongly opposing the THAAD deployment with the possible establishment of KOR-US-JAPAN Missile Defense system that will follow after. The THAAD deployment will aggravate a new Cold War between KOR-US-JAPAN and China-Russia, at the same time as it may offer a beginning that will lead the whole region to war. The painful experience of the Korean War has taught us that peace and stability in the Korean peninsula cannot be achieved by force. Hence we ask that both the South and the US immediately cancel the decision to deploy the THAAD and begin dialogue with the North, China and Russia for denuclearization as well as a long-lasting peace system on the Korean peninsula.
2. We pose a fundamental question about the international society’s additional sanctions against the North.
The international society along with the UN immediately declared additional harsh sanctions against the North in reaction to the satellite launch. However the international society has to acknowledge that North Korea as a sovereign state has the right to launch satellites that are not equipped with nuclear warheads. Additionally it cannot be denied that the international society’s sanctions and pressures on the North have not created fundamental solutions and that they have rather aggravated the “vicious cycle of confrontation.” Therefore we appeal to the UN and the international society that it is not sanctions and confrontations but dialogues and negotiations, understanding and tolerance that will prevent total collapse.
3. We urge Park Geun Hye’s administration to stop the attempt to pass the Anti-Terrorism Act.
Despite the fact that it has been publicly acknowledged that terror can be sufficiently prevented with the existing organizations and laws, the Park administration is attempting to pass the Anti-Terrorism Act using the North’s nuclear tests and satellite launch as pretexts. If the Anti-Terrorism Act, which is currently being pushed by the government and the ruling party, is enacted and implemented, absolute power will be centered on the National Intelligence Service and our society will face a non-democratic reality in which people experience severe restriction of their freedom and rights in the consolidation of the government’s power. With a warning that the Anti-Terrorism Act will heavily damage the healthy development of democracy, we urge the government and the ruling party to stop using the current North situation as a pretext to pass the Anti-Terrorism Act.
Peace on the Korean peninsula and stability in the North East Asia cannot be achieved through an arms race. Only dialogues, negotiations, understanding and tolerance will pave way for peace and reunification.
February 8, 2016
Kim Young Ju, General Secretary, NCCK
Noh Jung Sun, Chair of Reconciliation and Reunification, NCCK
2016: God's Peace cannot be achieved through force
North Korean Nuclear Test (Hydrogen Bomb Test)
Statement as PDF
Statement on the January 6 North Korean Nuclear Test (so-called Hydrogen Bomb Test)
God’s Peace cannot be achieved through force
Since the proclamation of the “Declaration of the Churches of Korea on National Unification and Peace” in 1988, the NCCK has continuously made clear its principle of denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and the whole world. But amidst rising military tension due to North Korea’s nuclear test on January 6, we claim the following with deep concern.
1. Peace cannot be built through nuclear weapons and an arms race.
We have clearly observed through historical experiences, especially the Korean War, that peace and unification in the Korean peninsula cannot be achieved through force. The North has several times proposed that they would cease nuclear testing in exchange for the suspension of the Korea-US joint military drills, but the proposals have been ignored. The US is reacting quickly to this test as they have just flown over the Korean peninsula one of their high-tech strategic weapons: the B-52 Stratofortress, capable of delivering nuclear bombs. They are also considering
Weiterlesen: 2016: God's Peace cannot be achieved through force
2016: Für eine gerechte Lösung!
Japanische und Koreanische Regierung einigen sich: 28.12.2015
Erklärung weltweit veröffentlicht am 6.1.2016
Für eine gerechte Lösung der "Trostfrauen"-Frage - eine gloable Aktion
gleichzeitig in den USA (Los Angeles, in Washington DC. New York, New Jersey, San Francisco, Atlanta), in Österreich (Wien), Frankreich (Paris), Great Britain (London), in Deutschland (Berlin und München) etc.
PDF (English) | PDF (Koreanisch) | PDF (Deutsch)
Siehe auch diese Animation, die Geschichte einer koreanischen "Trostfrau"
UND das STATEMENT der Frauenkommission des KNCC (7.1.2016)
- Statement -
Global Action for Righteous Resolution of the Japanese Military “Comfort Women” Issue and the 1212th Wednesday Demonstration
January 6, 2016
After Hak-soon Kim courageously testified on August 14, 1991 against Japan’s crime, the Japanese military “comfort women,” the first Wednesday Demonstration was held on January 8, 1992. Since then, it has been carrying on the hopeful spirit for 24 years and reached 1212th demonstration today. This weekly demonstration has become the brave voice of the victims, fight of the people hoping to accomplish human rights and peace, and a place of solidarity of people worldwide who oppose the war and demand elimination of violence against women. On December 14, 2011, the Peace Monument was erected here through solidarity participations of citizens to celebrate the 1000th Wednesday demonstration, and it vividly affirms our righteous fight.
The foreign ministers of Korea and Japan’s talk on December 28, 2015 clearly ignored “comfort women” victims’ demands
2016: Forderung nach Annullierung der Jap.-Kor. Vereinbarung
Japanische und Koreanische Regierung einigen sich: 28.12.2015
AG TROSTFRAUEN im Korea-Verband
Veröffentlicht am 4. Januar 2016
Forderung nach Annullierung der japanisch-koreanischen Vereinbarung zur „Trostfrauen“-Frage
Die AG „Trostfrauen“ im Korea Verband fordert die Annullierung der japanisch-koreanischen Vereinbarung zur „Trostfrauen“-Frage vom 28.12.2015 und ruft zur Internationalen Solidarität mit der 1212. Mittwochsdemonstration auf. Folgende Forderungen gibt die AG „Trostfrauen“ zur Mittwochsdemo am 06.01.2016 vor der Koreansichen und Japanischen Botschaft ab.
Am 28.12.2015 wurde die japanisch-koreanische Vereinbarung zur „Trostfrauen-Frage“ verabschiedet und zahlreiche Medien berichteten, dass die „Trostfrauen-Frage“ nun „endgültig und unwiderruflich“ gelöst worden sei! Die Betroffenen sind jedoch maßlos empört und zugleich tief enttäuscht über diese diplomatische Augenwischerei, die ohne jegliche Absprache mit Betroffenen und Betroffenen-Verbänden als vollendete Tatsache über ihre Köpfe hinweg beschlossen wurde.
Weiterlesen: 2016: Forderung nach Annullierung der Jap.-Kor. Vereinbarung
Statement - Korean Council
Japanische und Koreanische Regierung einigen sich: 28.12.2015
Statement from the Korean Council
28 December, 2015
The Official Statement from the Korean Council for the Women Drafted for Military
Sexual Slavery by Japan regarding the Agreement on the Military Sexual Slavery
(“Comfort Women”) Issue during the Korea-Japan Ministerial Meeting
Today’s meeting between the foreign ministers of South Korea and Japan concluded with an agreement on the resolution for the military sexual slavery issue. The survivors of the “Comfort Women” system as well as the Korean citizens sincerely hoped for the rightful resolution on the issue through this meeting, on the year which marks the 70th anniversary of Korea’s independence.
The Agreement specified that: first, Japanese government feels its responsibilities for the military sexual slavery; second, Prime Minister Abe apologizes as the representative of the Japanese government; and third, the Korean government establishes a foundation where Japanese government provides the funding while the two governments collaboratively manage initiatives.
Although the Japanese government announced that it “feels [its] responsibilities,” the statement lacks the acknowledgment of the fact that the colonial government and its military had committed a systematic crime. The government had not just been simply involved but actively initiated the activities which were criminal and illegal. Also, the apology was not directly made by the Prime Minister himself as the official representative of the government but was read by a diplomatic representative, while it was unclear to whom he was actually apologizing. Hence it is hard to believe if it was a sincere apology.
In addition, the announcement specified that Korean government will be responsible
2015: Erklärungen - Japan und Korea
Japanische und Koreanische Regierung einigen sich: 28.12.2015
Beide Regierungen geben Erkärungen zur Einigung in Bezug auf die "Trostfrauen"-frage ab.
I. Erklärung des japanischen Außenministeriums zur Trostfrage
Über die Trostfrauen-Frage zwischen Japan und Südkorea haben bislang u.a. die Büroleiter intensive Beratungen durchgeführt. Auf deren Ergebnissen fußend, gebe ich namens der japanischen Regierung die folgende Erklärung ab.
(1) Die Trostfrauen-Frage hat, unter Beteiligung der damaligen Armee, Ehre und Würde zahlreicher Frauen zutiefst verletzt. Unter diesem Gesichtspunkt fühlt sich die japanische Regierung schmerzlich verantwortlich.
Ministerpräsident Abe spricht als Ministerpräsident von Japan erneut allen Personen gegenüber, die als Trostfrauen viele Leiden und Schmerzen erfuhren und an Leib und Seele schwer heilbare Wunden davontrugen, von ganzem Herzen die Bitte um Entschuldigung und das Gefühl selbstkritischer Reue aus.
(2) Die japanische Regierung, die sich auch bisher dieses Problems ernsthaft angenommen hatte, ergreift jetzt auf der Grundlage dieser Erfahrungen aus dem Haushalt der japanischen Regierung Maßnahmen, welche die seelischen Wunden aller ehemaligen Trostfrauen heilen sollen. Konkret wird die südkoreanische Regierung eine Stiftung errichten, die den ehemaligen Trostfrauen Unterstützung leisten soll und für welche aus dem japanischen Regierungshaushalt einmalig Kapital aufgebracht wird; beide Regierung führen in Zusammenarbeit Projekte durch, um die Ehre und Würde der ehemaligen Trostfrauen wiederherzustellen und ihre seelischen Wunden zu heilen.
(3) Die japanische Regierung stellt zugleich mit der obigen Erklärung fest, daß unter der Voraussetzung der getreuen Umsetzung der oben unter (2) genannten Maßnahmen durch diese Erklärung dieses Problem endgültig und unumkehrbar gelöst wird.
Zudem verzichten die japanische Regierung und die südkoreanische Regierung darauf, hernach in den Vereinten Nationen oder in der Völkergemeinschaft einander zu bedrängen oder zu kritisieren.
2015: No promises in Fukushima cleanup
Fukushima - 4 Jahre danach: 11.03.2015
Quelle: The Japan Times, December 17, 2015, AP
No promises in Fukushima cleanup, director says
BY YURI KAGEYAMA
The man leading the daunting task of dealing with the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant warns with surprising candor: Nothing can be promised.
How long will it take to decommission the three breached reactors, and how