The latest missile test by North Korea, which took place yesterday (August 29th), is the latest in a series of provocations and counter-provocations between North Korea and the United States that could end up in an outbreak of war. See Trump says that ‘all options are on the table’ after North Korea fires missile over Japan.
We therefore invite you to endorse an Appeal of Abolition 2000 Members for a diplomatic approach to address the Korea nuclear crisis.
The escalating tensions and threat of military conflict over North Korea’s nuclear and missile capabilities make a diplomatic solution of vital importance and the highest priority. The increasing risk of war – and possibly even the use of nuclear weapons by miscalculation, accident, or intent – is frightening.
Below is the appeal drafted by members of Abolition 2000. We plan to send the appeal and list of endorsers to leaders of China, Japan, North Korea, Russia, South Korea and the United States, as well as to the United Nations and European Union.
Please reply to info@baselpeaceoffice.org by September 5 if you can endorse, indicating whether you endorse as an individual or on behalf of your organization.
Appeal for a diplomatic solution in North East Asia
The Abolition 2000 members listed below, representing peace and disarmament organisations from around the world, call on the United States and North Korea to step back from the brink of war in North East Asia, and instead adopt a diplomatic approach to prevent war.
We call for the immediate commencement of negotiations to prevent a military conflict from erupting, and to resolve the underlying conflicts. Such negotiations should take place both bilaterally and through a renewed Six-Party framework involving China, Japan, North Korea, Russia, South Korea and the United States.
The escalating tensions and threat of military conflict over North Korea's nuclear and missile capabilities makes a diplomatic solution of vital importance and the highest priority. The increasing risk of war - and possibly even the use of nuclear weapons by miscalculation, accident, or intent - is frightening.
More than three million citizens of Korea, Japan, China, USA and other countries lost their lives in the Korean War from 1950-1953. Should a war erupt again, the loss of lives could be considerably worse, especially if nuclear weapons are used. Indeed, a nuclear conflict erupting in Korea could engulf the entire world in a nuclear catastrophe that would end civilization as we know it.
In supporting diplomacy rather than war, we:
- Oppose any pre-emptive use of force by any of the parties, which would be counter-productive and likely lead to nuclear war;
- Call on all parties to refrain from militaristic rhetoric and provocative military exercises;
- Encourage China, Japan, North Korea, Russia, South Korea and the United States to consider the phased and comprehensive approach for a North-East Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone with a 3+3 arrangement[1], which already has cross-party support in Japan and South Korea and interest from the North Korean government;
- Encourage China, Japan, North Korea, Russia, South Korea and the United States to also consider options and modalities for turning the 1953 Armistice Agreement into a formal end to the 1950-1953 Korean War;
- Welcome the call of the UN Secretary-General for a resumption of Six-Party talks and his offer to assist in negotiations;
- Welcome also the offer of the European Union to assist in diplomatic negotiations, as they did successfully in the negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program;
- Call on the United Nations Security Council to prioritise a diplomatic solution to the conflict.
Endorsers (List in formation)
[1] The 3+3 arrangement would include Japan, South Korea and North Korea agreeing not to possess or host nuclear weapons, and would require China, Russia and the USA agreeing not to deploy nuclear weapons in Japan, South Korea or North Korea, nor to attack or threaten to attack them with nuclear weapons.