Preparatory Issue 10
June 2022
“The South and the North have agreed to resolve the question of reunification independently and through the joint efforts of the Korean people, who are the masters of the country.”

This is the first pillar of the June 15th South-North Joint Declaration announced by South Korea’s President Kim Dae Jung and North Korea’s National Defence Commission Chairman Kim Jeong-il following their Pyongyang inter-Korean summit in 2000. The leaders of the two Koreas discussed reunification, followed by ministerial and economic talks, railways, road connections, construction of the Kaesong Industrial Complex, and private-sector dialogue and exchanges. In 2007, this was followed by the Roh Administration’s October 4th Joint Declaration for the Development of Inter-Korean Relations and Peaceful Prosperity, which contained agreements in more than 40 areas, expanding exchange and cooperation as a way towards peace between both Koreas.

 

22 years after the June 15th Joint Declaration, reality seems dark. The past three years have not had any inter-Korean dialogue, and the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, which took office in May, has prioritized strengthening the ROK’s military capabilities and the ROK-U.S. alliance (expanding its joint military practices, considering preemptive strikes).

 

We must create a wind of peace, not military tension on the Korean Peninsula. As stated in the South-North Joint Declaration 22 years ago, we must create peace "independently on our own power." To this end, rather than talks about a preemptive strike policy or defining North Korea as the main enemy, it is time to open the door to dialogue and exchange.

International Union of Left Publishers condemns attack on The People’s Forum

  From:  Peoples Dispatch
Photo: The People's Forum
On Friday, June 3, a far-right coalition attempted to occupy The People’s Forum, a socialist and anti-racist space in New York. They were reportedly abetted by the police who were present at the space but allowed the physical attacks and verbal harassment of the staff and guests of The People’s Forum. The International Union of Left Publishers has issued a statement condemning the attack.
Click here for the full article
[Progressive Forum]
How NATO & Sanctions Perpetuate War & Suffering
On April 10, the International Strategy Center held its monthly Progressive Forum: “How NATO and Sanctions Perpetuate War and Suffering.” It hosted Reiner Braun (executive director of the 131 year old International Peace Bureau, a founder of the No to NATO Network, and author of “Einstein - Peace Now”); and Vijay Prashad (journalist, author, and director of the Tricontinental Institute for Social Change). The event involved presentations, followed by questions from the ISC and audience members. NATO has become a global military alliance in the U.S. pursuit of a new ColdWar against Russia. Can Europe turn to an indivisible security policy?
43rd anniversary of the Sandinista Revolution
The Embassy of the Republic of Nicaragua and the International Strategy Center cordially invite you to the Celebration of the 43rd anniversary of the triumph of the Sandinista Revolution. There will be a presentation on the Sandinista Revolution by the ambassador and time to talk over drinks and food.
Register
ISC Book Club 2
A Disability History of the United States

ISC invites you to our second book club studying and discussing "A Disability History of the United States". The book contains the history of discrimination against people with disabilities and the history of struggle against this discrimination and oppression in the United States. We are going to study the history of discrimination and the history of struggle not only in the United States but also in Korea. 

Register

[Movie Night] Disclosure

On June 19th, we met up to watch the movie “Disclosure”, and discuss issues of media representation in the U.S. and the effort to pass the anti-discrimination law in Korea. We discussed differences between the US and South Korea regarding representation and what is considered taboo. Most importantly we gathered some new and familiar people to share an afternoon, and a very pleasant after party.
Web Site : www.goisc.org 
2F, 2 Dosin-ro 47-gil, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul International Strategy Center