During the Catholic Korea Peace Forum 2023, held from October 26 to 29 in Paju, DMZ and Hiroshima, participants congregated with the specific intention of visiting historical sites marked by conflicts and animosity. The primary aim of the Catholic Korea Peace Forum 2023 was to engage in substantive discussions surrounding the extensive suffering experienced by both humanity and the natural world, stemming from the consequences of war and the ongoing division of the two Koreas. Participants conveyed our deepest condolences and apologies for the losses incurred and acknowledged collective responsibilities for both the past and the future. In praying for peaceful reconciliation during our journey from the DMZ to Hiroshima, participants gained valuable insights and encountered new approaches to reconciliation. These shared experiences have enriched us all. Through our reflections on the division, war, and nuclear weapons, we renew our companionship and journey toward peace in Korea and Northeast Asia. Challenging questions that the participants posed in the Peace Forum include: How can the Church address the structures of division and promote peace on the Korean Peninsula? How can we influence political leaders to de-escalate hostilities and militarization on the Korean Peninsula? How can we encourage Kim Jong-un to engage in dialogue? How can we achieve peace, denuclearization, and human rights in the Korean Peninsula while taking international sanctions against North Korea into account? How is climate change a contributing factor to conflict in Northeast Asia and how can the Catholic Church respond? How can the Catholic Church better educate, evangelize, and empower people to practice peace-making and reconciliation? How can we address the related concerns of those opposed to Korean reunification? How can young Catholics contribute to a more just and peaceful Northeast Asia? How can the Church help frame and address the root causes of distrust and conflict in Northeast Asia? Some Presentation and Conversation Highlights: Participants recognized the nature and impact of the Korean War, as well as the intricate security dilemmas faced in Northeast Asia, including the resurgence of militarism, both from the Korean Peninsula and on a global scale, which has complex implications for the region and the world. Participants confronted the horrors and immorality of the nuclear bomb in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, delving into the known and lesser known histories. Participants affirmed that the use of nuclear weapons should never recur in human history. Given the complexity of international relations, characterized by a multi-polar power structure and regional arms races, the use of any kind of weapons of mass destruction poses the potential for catastrophic consequences. The pursuit of peace demands arms control at the beginning and ideally, the abandonment of such weapons in the end. Participants concur that conflicts in one place can trigger a chain reaction of violence elsewhere. Therefore, it is essential to identify methods for applying positive pressure to stakeholders, encouraging the abandonment of policies that escalate military tension. The Catholic Church must offer a profound moral perspective to counter the prevailing “realpolitik” view that national security only comes from military buildup in Northeast Asia and instead, promote peaceful cooperation of neighboring countries in the region. Some Pressing Issues Identified: The waning prospects of ‘denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula’ and the growing nuclear threats in the region The proliferation of ‘a tit-for-tat’ mentality in the name of alliance politics The ineffectiveness of existing sanctions on North Korea and the need to find new multilateral ways to engage diplomatically The threats posed by environmental crises in North Korea and the resulting tensions in regional security The disengagement of cooperation with North Korea and the potential failure to address upcoming environmental and security threats The risks associated with nuclear energy and its connection to the proliferation of nuclear weapons Aspirations Shared by Participants in the Peace Forum: According to Apostolic Journey of his Holiness Pope Francis to Thailand and Japan (19-26 November 2019), Pope Francis clearly emphasized the immorality of the use of nuclear weapons as follow; “With deep conviction I wish once more to declare that the use of atomic energy for purposes of war is today, more than ever, a crime not only against the dignity of human beings but against any possible future for our common home. The use of atomic energy for purposes of war is immoral, just as the possessing of nuclear weapons is immoral, as I already said two years ago.” Following the Pope’s statement, participants understood that the possession and use of nuclear weapons by anyone is a threat to all and hoped that all nuclear weapons should be abolished. Participants support the necessity of creating Northeast Asia as a nuclear-free zone and the urgent need of exploring security for all without nuclear weapons. Participants agreed to work hard to establish cross-border relationships and engage in a substantial global dialogue regarding universal, verifiable nuclear disarmament. This concerted effort is essential for the permanent elimination of the nuclear threat. Given the complex historical context of the Korean Peninsula, participants agreed to exert relentless efforts to establish gradual and reciprocal trust-building with North Korea by prioritizing dialogue and engagement. Participants recognized the importance of resuming dialogue between two Koreas and the normalization of US-DPRK relations as urgent issues for peace in Northeast Asia. Participants will continue to strengthen solidarity among the local churches in an effort to promote nuclear disarmament and international cooperation to address environmental crises. We are all deeply related and have shared experiences of immense suffering. We likewise share the responsibility of fulfilling God’s vision although we recognize the pursuit of peace will face difficult challenges. We must look past the bitter fruits of war and continue to offer a prophetic vision of hope and build a path for reconciliation and peace. October 29, 2023Participants of the 2023 Catholic Korea Peace Forum
