Statement from AFSC on North Korea

Statement in Response to U.S. Simulated Nuclear Attacks

The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) has long opposed military actions on the Korean peninsula that serve to deepen and prolong a conflict that has persisted since the Korean War. This month another round of military actions and escalations by all parties are now underway in the region, including repeated simulated U.S. nuclear attacks against North Korea by B-2 and B-52 bombers in the midst of ongoing U.S.-South Korean war games. We call once again for an end to such provocative actions and a concerted effort to de-escalate and resolve the longstanding regional conflict that has taken a deep, generations-long toll on the region.

Such simulations and the history of U.S. nuclear threats during past Korean crises contributed to the development of North Korea’s nuclear arsenal and its recent nuclear test, threatening to ignite a regional nuclear arms race. Military threats made routinely by North and South Korea as well as recent and possibly related cyber-attacks against North Korean media outlets and against South Korean broadcasters and banks further escalate the conflict.

Provocations of this sort “routine or otherwise” can too easily lead to miscalculations, and generate fears and passions that make it difficult for political leaders to respond with necessary caution. We are sobered by the memory of how such miscalculations have triggered cataclysmic wars in the past and even brought nuclear powers to the brink of all-out war.

The escalation of tensions and confrontations needs to be halted:

AFSC urges all parties to step back from further provocations.

AFSC further calls for the suspension of war games and military exercises on all sides. In particular, the U.S. should halt its provocative simulated nuclear attacks which are more likely to reinforce the DPRK’s commitment to its incipient nuclear arsenal, rather than to open a constructive dialogue.

To set relations on a better course:

AFSC urges renewed diplomatic engagement and negotiations between the North and South Korean Governments.

Echoing the views of former U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Donald Gregg, AFSC reminds the U.S. government that sanctions and military threats will not succeed in ending decades of militarized tensions. The Obama Administration should reach out to North Korea with the goal of negotiating a peace agreement to finally end the Korean War.

Philadelphia, PA - March 30, 2013 Contact: Alexis Moore (215-241-7060)
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The American Friends Service Committee is a Quaker organization that includes people of various faiths who are committed to social justice, peace and humanitarian service. Its work is based on the belief in the worth of every person and faith in the power of love to overcome violence and injustice.

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I sent this email to President Obama:

Dear President Obama,

Like people around the world, I'm very concerned about tensions on the Korean Peninsula, and I deplore North Korea's recent nuclear test and threats to attack South Korea and the United States.

However, I'm afraid U.S. actions such as war games with South Korea, simulated nuclear attacks on North Korea using B-2 and B-52 bombers and deploying F-22 fighters to South Korea are heightening the threats to international peace and security rather than easing them.

I urge you to end this provocative military escalation and instead emphasize restraint and diplomacy to address the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

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Latest information on the situation in North and South Korea.