Northeast Asia

GPPAC members in Northeast Asia pioneered the Ulaanbaatar Process, a unique Track II dialogue for peace and stability in Northeast Asia. Since 2015, the Ulaanbaatar Process has been the only standing platform that regularly brings together civil society representatives from North and South Korea, as well as China, Japan, Russia, the United States, and Mongolia to engage in peace dialogue.

Maintaining dialogue amid tensions

Even when official talks stall, communication, including both North and South Korea, continues through the Ulaanbaatar Process. By offering a safe space for discussion, it ensures that citizens’ voices remain active and connected, even in moments of political impasse. 

Promoting peace and cooperation

While much of the regional debate emphasises military strength as the only path to peace, the Ulaanbaatar Process provides an alternative: dialogue and cooperation as tools to understand perspectives, identify areas for concrete collaboration, and, where possible, ease tensions. The process also enables participants to gain firsthand insights into developments across the region, beyond polarised national narratives. Learn more about the Ulaanbaatar Process.

GPPAC members in Northeast Asia launched the ‘’Peace Games’’ together with the American Friends Service Committee as an alternative to popular war game simulations that rehearse militarised crisis responses in Northeast Asia. 

Peace Games help participants develop practical skills to prevent conflict and promote collaboration. Through simulations focused on negotiation and the collaborative drafting of resolutions, participants gain hands-on experience in seeking alternatives and policymaking. They are an innovative, inclusive, and participatory methodology that can be adapted to different discussion formats. Click here to find out more.