Ahead of the Korea-US Summit... Religious and Civic Groups Urge Balanced Peace Diplomacy

On the 20th, when U.S. President Joe Biden's visit to South Korea is scheduled, police are on guard duty in front of the U.S. Embassy in Jongno-gu, Seoul. The police are providing security for President Biden at the highest level of state guest protection, Grade A, while significantly strengthening security for U.S.-related facilities, including the U.S. Embassy in South Korea and the ambassador's residence. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] Ahead of the first South Korea-US summit since the inauguration of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, religious and civic groups have called for the realization of a balanced peace diplomacy policy.

On the 20th, the June 15 Joint Declaration Implementation South Korea Committee and the Korean Peninsula End-of-War Peace Campaign held a 'Religious and Civil Society Peace Declaration Press Conference on the Occasion of the South Korea-US Summit' at around 11 a.m. at the Korea Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul. A total of 153 religious and civic organizations, including the June 15 Joint Declaration Implementation South Korea Committee, participated in the peace declaration held alongside the press conference.

These groups emphasized that the upcoming South Korea-US summit is a diplomatically important moment as it will address agendas such as North Korea deterrence and the Indo-Pacific strategy. In a statement, the groups said, "This summit takes place during a complex and difficult time when the world order is rapidly sliding into a new Cold War," adding, "On the Korean Peninsula, the implementation of inter-Korean and North Korea-US agreements has been halted, and competitive development of new weapons continues, increasing military tensions."

They stressed that the Yoon administration should adopt a more balanced diplomatic approach. The groups explained, "The Korean Peninsula needs balanced peace diplomacy rather than biased diplomacy that could trigger a new Cold War confrontation," and added, "Fully aligning with the US-centered exclusive military alliance will not only negatively affect peace and denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula but could also turn the peninsula into the frontline for containing China."

Furthermore, they demanded a reduction in military tensions and the implementation of previous inter-Korean and North Korea-US agreements. The groups stated, "The parties to the agreements must halt all military activities in the region that could provoke tensions and engage in negotiations to improve relations," and "At this summit, they should express their intention to respect the inter-Korean and North Korea-US agreements and begin actions to build trust."