Open Letter to Disarmament and International Security Committee

To: Her Excellency Maritza Chan Valverde
Chairperson, Disarmament and International Security Committee,

Dear Madam,
We wish to bring to your attention a matter which we believe the Disarmament and International Security Committee should act on – namely, initiating peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Clause 60 of the Korean war Armistice which was signed by both side 27 July 1953, provided for a meeting within 3 months in order to produce a peace settlement agreement 

60. In order to insure the peaceful settlement of the Korean question, the military Commanders of both sides hereby recommend to the governments of the countries concerned on both sides that, within three (3) months after the Armistice Agreement is signed and becomes effective, a political conference of a higher level of both sides be held by representatives appointed respectively to settle through negotiation the questions of the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Korea, the peaceful settlement of the Korean question, etc.

Tripartite talks commenced 12th October 1953 and dragged on until 12 December when the USA walked out, having refused to agree to an agenda.

Commencing 26 April 1954 a conference was held in Geneva to further discuss Korea. The USA walked out of these talks 8th May. 

The “political conference of a higher level of both sides … to settle through negotiation the questions of the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Korea, the peaceful settlement of the Korean question, etc.” has never been held.

Seventy two years later the absence of a peace agreement continues to threaten regional and international security. Conversion of the Armistice to a peace agreement is long overdue.

In the interest of international peace and security, we request that the Disarmament and International Security Committee initiate a meeting of the countries from both sides (24 in total) who took part in the Korean War, to formulate a peace settlement agreement.

Sincerely,

Peter Wilson,
Secretary APRCFSKP,
Secretary New Zealand -DPRK Society

Raymond Ferguson,
Director of APRCFSKP Secretariat,
Secretary General, Australia-DPRK Friendship and Cultural Society

Teguh Santosa,
Chairperson, Indonesia -DPRK Friendship and Cultural Exchange
Director Public Information Bureau APRCFSKP

C.C:

1. Social, Humanitarian & Cultural Committee thirdcommittee@un.org
2. Special Political & Decolonization Committee 4thcommittee@un.org
3. Hon. Madhav Kumar Nepal Former Prime Minister of Nepal, Chairman, Community Party of Nepal
4. Dr. Doğu Perinçek Chairman, Vatan Party, Türkiye
5. Hon. Rashed Khan Menon Chairman, Central Committee of Worker's Party of Bangladesh
6. Mr. Atul Kumar Anjan Chairman, All India-Korea Friendship Association
7. Mr. Rafael V. Mariano President, Philippine-Korea Solidarity and Friendship Society
8. Mr. Neil Fitzgerald National Patron, Australia-DPRK Friendship and Cultural Society
9. Mr. Mahardika Soekarno Patron, Indonesia-Korea Friendship and Cultural Exchange
10. Mr. Javed Ansari President, Pakistan-Korea Friendship and Solidarity Committee
11. Mr. Hakki Ergincan Chairman, Türkiye-Korea Friendship Association
12. Ms. Marisa P. Dumanjug Secretary General, Philippines – Korea Solidarity and Friendship
13. Mr. Phanidra Raj Pant Secretary General, Nepal – Korea Friendship Association
14. Mr. Rajan Karki Editor in Chief, "Gorkha Express", Nepal
15. Mr. Christian Popovic National President, Australia-DPRK Friendship and Cultural Society
16. Mr. Zaw Than Central Executive Member, Myanmar Journalist Association
17. Mr. Ayub Quresh Editor Monthly Magazine "Johad Urdu", Pakistan
18. Mr. Daniel Man Prajapati Editor-in-Chief, Weekly Newspaper "Arpan", Nepal
19. Dr. Tim Beal Chairman NZ-DPRK Society
20. Mr. Mizutani Kenji Secretary General, the Japanese Committee to Support the
21. Independent and Peaceful Reunification of Korea
22. Mr. Surenjav Ulemj Executive Director J. Sambuu Foundation for Development of the Mongolian Herders
23. Mr. Anwer Lal Dean Senator, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
24. Mr. Ristyanto General Secretary Indonesia Rural Revival Movement Party
25. Mr. W. A. Duminduwardane Secretary General, Sri Lanka People's Korea Friendship & Solidarity Association
26. Mr. Md Harun Ar Rashid Chairman, Bangladesh-Korea Friendship and Solidarity Committee
27. Mr. Sk. Rafiqul Islam Bablu Secretary General, Bangladesh-Korea Friendship and Solidarity Committee
28. Mr. Metha Matkhao Chairman, Thailand-Korea Friendship Association
29. Adamos Katsantonis, Chairman of the Friends of the Korean Culture Association Cyprus