This June marks 76 years of unended war in Korea. Right now, Congress is having military budget discussions in Washington D.C. Women Cross DMZ and Korea Peace Now are asking the US government to build into any funding agreement a plan to end the Korean War. Will you join us?
(Send your letter here)
Read the letter below:
“I am writing to request that the language below be added to the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2027 as policy provisions or funding. As the longest-running U.S. conflict, the Korean War diverts essential resources from our communities. I join the majority of Americans calling for an end to this ‘forever war’ in favor of diplomatic relations with North Korea and a reduction in militarized spending.
On a peace agreement:
SENSE OF CONGRESS CALLING FOR A FORMAL END TO THE KOREAN WAR
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress that given the commitment of the leaders of South Korea and North Korea in Panmunjom on April 27, 2018, to actively promote meetings involving the United States ‘with a view to replacing the Armistice Agreement with a peace agreement and establishing a permanent and solid peace regime’, the Secretary of State should pursue serious, urgent diplomatic engagement with North Korea and South Korea in pursuit of a binding peace agreement constituting a formal and final end to the state of war between North Korea, South Korea, and the United States.
(b) REPORT.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a report that describes a clear roadmap for achieving a permanent peace agreement on the Korean peninsula.
(2) CONTENTS.—The report required under paragraph (1) shall—
(A) contain an accounting of the steps necessary to enter into negotiations with North Korea and South Korea to conclude a binding peace agreement;
(B) identify the key stakeholders involved in such negotiations; and
(C) describe the challenges concerning the ability of the United States to achieve a binding peace agreement constituting a formal and final end to the state of war between North Korea, South Korea, and the United States.
(3) FORM.—The report required under paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may contain a classified annex.
On U.S.-R.O.K. joint military exercises:
Sense of Congress.—It is the sense of Congress that joint military exercises by the United States and the Republic of Korea, given the costly diversion of resources away from critical national security interests and the resumption of missile testing by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in response to the aforementioned exercises, warrant review by the Secretary of Defense to ensure alignment with the security interests of the United States as stated in the National Defense Strategy.
Review.—The Secretary of Defense shall conduct a full review of the joint military exercises conducted by the United States and the Republic of Korea. Such review shall include consideration of the following:
(1) The effect of the joint military exercises on the Department of Defense’s efforts to deter armed confrontation with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and on the resumption of long-range missile testing by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea following a moratorium in 2018 and 2019.
(2) The impacts of the joint military exercises on civilian communities in the Republic of Korea with regard to physical and mental impacts on civilians living in proximity of exercise areas, environmental harm, and property damage.
(3) The utility of the joint military exercises for the security interests of the United States as stated in the National Defense Strategy and whether these interests would be served by a suspension or reduction in scope of the aforementioned exercises.
(c) Report.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate a report detailing the review conducted under subsection (b). Such report shall include a comprehensive description of the Department of Defense’s consideration of all matters described in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of such subsection, including, as applicable, any related policy changes and the rationale behind the Department’s decision to make or refrain from making policy changes relating to such matters.
On Pacific Deterrence Initiative spending:
(d) Within 180 days, the Department of Defense must issue clear, consistent rules for what can be labeled Pacific Deterrence Initiative (‘PDI’). The rules must clearly separate new improvements from routine baseline costs, apply the same standards across the services, set clear limits and written justification for activities outside PDI’s main geographic focus, and explain how the Department of Defense will judge ‘near-term deterrence impact’ (including Research & Development).
(e) Starting with the next budget, the Department of Defense must provide a clear, item-by-item list showing where each Pacific Deterrence Initiative (‘PDI’) dollar comes from, who controls it, whether it is new spending or just relabeled baseline spending, how and why it changed from last year, and where it happens. The Department of Defense must also show how PDI spending lines up with INDOPACOM’s funded priorities, and flag any item that the Department of Defense thinks would work just as well without the PDI label.”
Please send this letter to your Congressional representatives here.
And, if you want to do more to end the Korean war, please sign up for our summer Korea Peace advocacy, which will happen in June and July!
This summer’s advocacy training will equip you with skills to contact your representatives offices and schedule meetings for Korea Peace and other issues important to you. No experience in advocacy necessary! We’ll equip you, so please join us and bring a friend. 🙂 (everything is more fun with a friend)
MORE KOREA PEACE ADVOCACY
Send One Korea Peace Email Before 2025 Ends
The US Congress is going to close shop on December 19th. Before they head home for the holidays, will you take a moment to send one email for Korea Peace?
Amplify Our Calls for Korea Peace!
Because of our meetings with Congressional staff the last two weeks, now is the perfect time to contact your Representative and Senators to amplify our voices calling for Korean Peace.
US Government Restricts US Citizen Travel to North Korea
On May 14, the U.S. travel ban to North Korea (DPRK) was renewed for the 9th time. Such policies diminish the possibility for dialogue, understanding, and peacebuilding.
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