The DPRK-US Summit: A Step for Peace?

The second DPRK-US Summit came to an end in the Vietnamese Capital of Hanoi on February 28. It is regretful that this summit did not produce any concrete agreement, and many were disappointed that it did not result in a long-awaited declaration of the end of the Korean War. Yet, GPPAC believes that the Hanoi Summit should not be prematurely judged as a failure. Rather, we must recognise that the path towards realising a peaceful, nuclear-free Korean Peninsula will require a great deal more work, on all levels of society.

It is extremely significant that both the DPRK and the United States have clearly expressed their willingness to continue dialogue and negotiations. The Hanoi Summit was one step as part of a long-term process. It is vital that the international community focuses not only on the lack of an agreement, but rather on the next steps required to further develop constructive dialogue. We encourage not only the DPRK and the US, but also other regional actors including China, Japan, Russia and the Republic of Korea, to play an active role in supporting this process, ensuring that talks will continue. These efforts should also include discussion on a concrete roadmap and timeframe, recognising the increased role of both nuclear umbrella and non-nuclear-weapon states, and include sincere consideration of possible multilateral frameworks.

Importantly, this broad support for the Korea peace process must also include the involvement of civil society. As a global network of peacebuilding organisations, GPPAC pledges to work together with its members in both Koreas as well as around the world to promote dialogue and cooperation for the Korean Peninsula. Concretely, we will continue this through the regular convening of the Ulaanbaatar Process, with participation of regional civil society and experts. This is vital not only for the Korean Peninsula, but also as steps towards the establishment of regional mechanisms for sustainable peace and denuclearisation in the broader Northeast Asian region.

Following the Summit, Akira Kawasaki of Peace Boat wrote an op-ed, which was published by Newsweek. In the op-ed The Trump-Kim Reality TV Show Is Over -The World Needs To Get Serious About Denuclearization, he highlights the needs and necessities for peace in the region and the world.