Civic Groups Hold '69th Anniversary of Armistice Agreement Korean Peninsula Peace and End-of-War Cultural Festival'

[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] Civic groups held a peace cultural festival in front of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), wishing for peace on the Korean Peninsula.

On the 23rd, the civic group Korean Peninsula End-of-War Peace Campaign held the "69th Anniversary of the Armistice Agreement Korean Peninsula End-of-War Peace Cultural Festival" in front of the Mangbaedan at Imjingak. The event was attended by Yun Jeong-sook and Han Chung-mok, co-representatives of the Korean Peninsula End-of-War Peace Campaign, as well as Kang Hyun-wook, a Won Buddhism Civic Society Network 교당 교무, along with other civic and religious officials. The Korean Peninsula End-of-War Peace Campaign is a civic group consisting of seven major religions and over 370 civic organizations nationwide.

They expressed concern over the worsening inter-Korean relations. The Korean Peninsula End-of-War Peace Campaign stated, "In 2018, the leaders of South and North Korea declared to the world that 'a new era of peace on the Korean Peninsula has begun,' but currently distrust and hostility are deepening," adding, "It is a sad situation where countries are focusing more on military countermeasures than on the will to implement agreements."

They also criticized the Yoon administration's North Korea policy. The Korean Peninsula End-of-War Peace Campaign said, "The Yoon government evaluates that persuasion through dialogue has failed and plans to further strengthen the South Korea-U.S. alliance and attempt South Korea-U.S.-Japan military cooperation," warning, "If the large-scale South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises proceed in August, the Korean Peninsula will inevitably face another crisis." Furthermore, they added, "It has already been sufficiently proven over the past 70 years that sanctions and military pressure cannot resolve conflicts and that peace through force is impossible," emphasizing, "Stopping hostility and ending the war is the fundamental solution to creating a nuclear-free peaceful Korean Peninsula."

On the same day, from 12 p.m., the Korean Peninsula End-of-War Peace Campaign operated a peace booth where participants could sign the Korean Peninsula Peace Declaration. Peace buses also operated nationwide for participants.