| NGO Joint Declaration Bringing a 'Northeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone' to the negotiating table. |
In the Japan-DPRK Pyongyang Declaration of September 17 2002 the leaders of both countries agreed, in respect of the issues of nuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and regional security, to 'comply with all related international agreements' and to 'resolve security problems by promoting dialogues.' That both Japan and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (hereafter North Korea) reaffirmed their common understanding was a tremendous result of the summit talks. However, on October 16 2002 the U.S. State Department announced that North Korea has admitted to a programme of nuclear weapons development. As NGOs dealing with peace and security of Northeast Asia, we demand the following. 1. That North Korea make public all information regarding its programme of nuclear weapons development If North Korea's programme of nuclear weapons development is a fact, then this clearly goes against major international agreements such as the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), the 1994 US-North Korea Agreed Framework, and the 1992 Joint Declaration on the De-nuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula. We strongly protest this act as wrecking the security base of the Northeast Asia region. In order to establish the truth of the matter and at what stage the programme stands, a thorough investigation must be made. First and foremost we demand that the North Korean government make public all information related to the programme immediately. 2. That the U.S. should revoke its hostile policy against North Korea At the same time, we must draw attention to the numerous infringements of international agreements made by the U.S. The most important point to consider is that President Bush has unilaterally trampled upon the agreement reached in October 2000 that 'neither government would have hostile intent toward the other' and that 'both governments [is committed] to make every effort in the future to build a new relationship free from past enmity.' Through the 'axis of evil' statement, the Nuclear Posture Review and its National Security Strategy, the U.S. has indicated that it would use nuclear weapons or make a pre-emptive strike against North Korea. The Bush Administration's request for an immediate inspection goes against the U.S.-DPRK Agreed Framework. We demand that the U.S. return to its Agreed Framework and revoke its hostile policy against North Korea. Also, it is no doubt to us that the U.S. itself is obliged to eliminate its nuclear arsenal under the NPT. 3. We demand that both the Japanese and the North Korean governments bring the concept of a 'Northeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone' in to the negotiating table. The issue at hand cannot be resolved by the U.S. style belligerent diplomacy. We entreat the Japanese and North Korean governments to engage in a faithful and trustworthy dialogue from the standpoint of establishing peace and security.We strongly believe that the very solution to this issue is to be found in the argument for the de-nuclearization of the entire Northeast Asia region. The establishment of a 'Northeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone' should be brought up in the normalisation talks between the two governments. The establishment of such a zone is one concrete way to implement the ideas agreed upon in the Pyongyang Declaration, and is the first step towards a common security in the region built upon mutual trust. As a country which suffered the terrible experience of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the victims of which continue to suffer to this day both in Japan and on the Korean Peninsula, we call upon the Japanese government to take the initiative towards a Northeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone. We have until now jointly organised with South Korean NGOs the 'Conference for Peace and Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Northeast Asia', as well as continuing dialogue with the North Korean 'Korean Anti-Nuke and Peace Committee'. We wish to take this chance to develop a powerful movement and will continue to tackle this issue in conjunction with South Korean NGOs and related North Korean organizations. November 7 2002 Umebayashi Hiromichi Executive Director, Peace Depot (NPO) Maeda Tetsuo Military affairs Journalist Kushibuchi Mari Executive Committee, Peace Boat (NGO) |
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