On December 14, 2021, the University of Melbourne’s Initiative for Peacebuilding, in collaboration with the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, hosted the Australian launch of the Korea Peace Now! report “Path to Peace: The Case for a Peace Agreement to End the Korean War” — which explores how a peace-first approach can resolve the security crisis on the Korean Peninsula.
With negotiations between the United States and North Korea at a standstill, and the recent concerns about increased militarised and nuclearised securitisation (i.e., AUKUS agreements), there is an urgent need for a new approach. Rather than rely on more threats and pressure-based tactics, which have failed to deter North Korea’s nuclear ambitions, the United States should instead work toward the immediate signing of a peace agreement in order to finally end the 70-year-old Korean War, the authors argue.
‘Path to Peace’ panelists include:
– Christine Ahn, Executive Director of Women Cross DMZ, and a co-author of the report.
– Meri Joyce, Northeast Asia Regional Liaison Officer for the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC), Women Cross DMZ, and Goodwill Ambassador for Peace on the Korean Peninsula.
– Dr Jay Song, Korea Foundation Senior Lecturer in Korean Studies, and Research Coordinator for Migration, Gender and Environment, in the Asia Institute, The University of Melbourne.
– Dr Emma Leslie, Director, Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, Cambodia.
Participant Q&A was moderated by Dr Tania Miletic (Initiative for Peacebuilding).