..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... To The NZ Minister of Foreign Affairs NZ DPRK Society Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Parliament Buildings, Wellington.
Dear Minister McCully,
The NZ DPRK Society listened with interest to your statement on yesterday's TVNZ current affairs Q & A programme that in relation to Fiji you “have always taken the view that we need to engage because unless we engage we won’t be able to take advantage of opportunities when they come along”.
May we suggest to you that the same principle should be applied to North Korea.
It is 18 months since our Ambassador visited and presented his credentials to DPRK. This compares adversely with your three visits to Fiji to date this year.
There appears to be no prospect of the Six Party Talks resuming any time soon. The need for engagement however remains stronger than ever.
Pyongyang continues to issue statements to the effect that they want peace and a nuclear free Korean Peninsula. They state that, given peace, they are willing to dismantle their nuclear armament programme.
The NZ DPRK Society asks that our Ambassador be authorised to visit Pyongyang before the end of the year to find out what steps the DPRK believes need to be taken in order to achieve peace and a nuclear free peninsula.
Yours sincerely, Don Borrie Chairman NZ DPRK Society
Secretary NZ DPRK Society 29 October, 2010. To The NZ Minister of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington.
Dear Minister McCully,
Thank you for your letter 21 October, 2010, which acknowledges my letters (to you of 24 July, 2010, and to the Minister of Defence, Hon. Wayne Mapp, 30 August, 2010) but which does not answer the request made there-in- namely: We request that the New Zealand Government take a stand and declare that New Zealand troops will not participate in the event of war breaking out on the Korean peninsula, whether this be precipitated by either South or North Korea or their allies. The reasoning in support of New Zealand taking this stand was provided in my two previous letters and I await your response.
Yours sincerely,
Don Borrie
Chairman NZ DPRK Society
c.c. Phil Goff, Maryan Street, Pete Hodgson, Melissa Lee, Keith Locke. The NZ Minister of Defence 30th August 2010 The Hon. Dr. Wayne Mapp, Minister of Defence New Zealand Parliament.
Dear Dr. Mapp, At this time when there is mounting tension on the Korean Peninsula the NZ DPRK Society feels it is important to raise with you the question of New Zealand’s continuing engagement in the area. We request that the New Zealand Government take a stand and declare that New Zealand’s troops will not participate in the event of war breaking out on the Korean peninsula, whether this be precipitated by either South or North Korea or their allies. The Cheonan incident (which took place in the dying days US/South Korean military exercise Key Resolve/Foal Eagle) has shown that war could easily be ignited between South and North Korea. This situation has subsequently been exacerbated by further massive US/South Korean war games. In July operation Invincible Spirit involving 20 ships, 200 aircraft, and 8,000 sailors and airmen carried out drills in the sea of Japan. . This included a fleet of F-22 fighter planes and the USS George Washington, a 97,000-ton nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. In August Operation Ulchi-Freedom Guardian, claimed by the Americans to be the largest command and control military exercise in the world, has involved some 500,000 South Korean troops and 27,000 US troops. It is our conviction that military action is not the way to end the Korean impasse. Essentially the situation should be resolved by the two Koreas through dialogue and diplomacy. We believe that the impasse can readily be resolved by the parties being encouraged to enter into, mediated, negotiations, listening to each other’s concerns and acting to reach a mutually agreed solution. Former President Jimmy Carter, in a lecture at Korea University in Seoul, criticized international sanctions against Pyongyang, saying ordinary North Koreans take the brunt of the punishment. “In almost every case these sanctions were counterproductive” he said. He also urged Washington and Seoul to have direct talks with Pyongyang to resolve the nuclear standoff. “No one can predict the final answer from Pyongyang, but there is no harm in making a major effort, including unrestrained direct talks. The initiative must be from America and South Korea,” he said. A military solution is not the answer. The answer lies in genuine dialogue and diplomacy. We request that the New Zealand Government make its priority the support for peaceful negotiations and to make it clear that this country will not be involved in any future military action should this break out on the Korean Peninsula.
Yours sincerely, Don Borrie Chairman Letter to the NZ Minister of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs, Parliament, Wellington. 26 August 2010 Dear Mr. McCully, On behalf of our Society I wish to draw to your attention the humanitarian crisis that now exists in the DPRK as a result of major floods in the last two weeks. Reports coming out of the DPRK indicate that the damage to agricultural land and infrastructure has been massive. With the DPRK already suffering from a shortage of food prior to the floods, the predicament that the Korean people now find themselves in is dire. For the first time in nearly a decade reference is being made to the impact of the floods in the 1990s when starvation resulted in widespread deaths of vulnerable people. We therefore make an appeal to the New Zealand Government to make an emergency humanitarian grant to victims of the floods. This grant can be channeled through the World Food Program or International Red Cross – both agencies being active in the DPRK and have appealed for assistance. Yours sincerely, Don Borrie
Chairman. NZ DPRK Society
Media Release. August 2010 Going under the name “ Ulgi Freedom Guardian” some 30,000 US troops and 56,000 South Korean troops are presently engaged in provocative military exercises on the land, sea and airspace surrounding the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea ( DPRK – North Korea ). This exercise is the latest of a number of exercises designed as much for an invasion of the DPRK as they are claimed to be for defense. The effect is to consistently increase the pressure on the DPRK Government and the general population, obliging the DPRK to channel more and more resources into the military, in the hope of destabilizing the society and even to provoke retaliation. For its part, when confronted with these massive war games, the DPRK has consistently resisted from retaliating like with like. However the situation becomes more dangerous by the day. We therefore call on the USA and South Korean Governments to pull back from this brinkmanship and cooperate with China who have been negotiating with the DPRK for a resumption of the Six Party Talks. We urge the NZ Government to give its full support to the DPRK – China peaceful negotiations. Don Borrie Chairman NZ DPRK Society In July 2010, the NZ DPRK Society sent a letter to the New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs asking that the NZ Government declare that NZ troops will not participate in the event of a war breaking out on the Korean Peninsula. Three weeks later an undated reply was received from the Minister. The reply did not address the issue of whether NZ troops would participate in future war on the Korean Peninsula. 24 July, 2010. Hon. Murray McCully, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Parliament, Wellington.
Dear Mr McCully, At this time when there is mounting tension on the Korean peninsula our Society felt it important to raise with you the question of New Zealand’s continuing engagement in the area. The Cheonan incident has shown that war could easily be ignited between South and North Korea. While we recognise that history plays a part in the current relationship we do not believe that the Cheonan incident should be assumed to be part of the 1950-53 war and should not be a consideration by New Zealand when any form of New Zealand intervention is contemplated. It is our conviction that military action is not the only way to end the Korean impasse. Essentially the situation should be resolved by the two Koreas through diplomacy. We believe that the impasse can readily be resolved by the parties being encouraged to enter into ,albeit mediated, negotiations, listening to each other’s concerns and acting to reach a mutually agreed solution. Former President Jimmy Carter, in a lecture at Korea University in Seoul, criticized international sanctions against Pyongyang, saying ordinary North Koreans take the brunt of the punishment. “In almost every case these sanctions were counterproductive”, he said He also urged Washington and Seoul to have direct talks with Pyongyang to resolve the nuclear standoff. "No one can predict the final answer from Pyongyang, but there is no harm in making a major effort, including unrestrained direct talks. The initiative must be from America and South Korea,” he said. We request that the New Zealand Government make its priority the support for peaceful negotiations and to declare that New Zealand’s troops will not participate in the event of war breaking out on the Korean peninsula, whether precipitated by either South or North Korea or their allies. Yours sincerely, Don Borrie Chairman NZ DPRK Society Office of Hon. Murray McCully Minister of Foreign Affairs Private bag, Parliament Buildings Wellington New Zealand.
Dear Reverend Borrie,
I refer to your letter of 24 July 2010 concerning the sinking of the Cheonan vessel and New Zealand’s engagement on the Korean Peninsula. New Zealand has a long record of support for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. This has led the Government to support dialogue initiatives such as the Six-Party Talks process to achieve denuclearization and condemn provocative actions like the Democratic People’s Republic of Koreas (DPRK) rocket launches and nuclear tests which have undermined productive dialogue. Most recently, New Zealand condemned the DPRK’s involvement in the Cheonan sinking and urged it to refrain from further destabilizing acts and modify its behaviour to actively engage in dialogue.
Yours sincerely,
Hon. Murray McCully Minister of Foreign Affairs------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In June 2010, the NZ DPRK Society sent a letter to the Prime Minister of New Zealand, copied to the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The letter asked for the postponed visit of the NZ Ambassador to North Korea to be rescheduled within two months. A reply was received from the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Both letters follow below. NOTE: To Date the NZ Ambassador has not made his visit to Pyongyang. Rt. Honorable John Key Prime Minister Government of New Zealand 9th June 2010
Dear Mr. Key, We have been disappointed to receive advice that the NZ Ambassador’s visit to Pyongyang which was due to take place this week, has been postponed. We request that this postponement be of a token nature and that the Ambassador’s visit be rescheduled within two months. 2010 marks the sixtieth year since the start of the Korean War and the 57th since a cease fire was signed. Few if any wars have lasted this long in the history of mankind. It should be unacceptable to NZ that we are a party to this prolonged state of war. The policies of sanctions and isolation have failed. The situation on the peninsula today is possibly the worst it has been since the armistice was signed and an arms race is building up in North Asia. The USA says it can not consider normalizing ties with Pyongyang and lifting sanctions unless North Korea takes irreversible steps toward dismantling its nuclear program. The DPRK says they will forego their nuclear armament programme when there has been a cessation of hostilities and the Korean War armistice has been replaced with a peace treaty. This stalemate has now persisted for at least two decades and seems to also be applicable to the Six Party talks. A way forward has to be found. It is our belief that neither increased sanctions, nor increased military actions are going to solve what is the most serious threat to peace in the Asian/Pacific region. It is pertinent that the Chinese have called for peace and stability (i.e. diplomacy). Diplomacy is defined as “dealing with people so that business is done smoothly.” Not visiting Pyongyang is a negative move, opting out of diplomacy. The DPRK has been consistently asking for a peace agreement for a long time now. We have documented on our website ten such calls that they have made just this year : http://sites.google.com/site/nzdprksociety/statements-from-pyongyang-re-the-need-for-peace Given these statements, surely diplomacy can find a way through the impasse. At a time of heightened tensions, there is a need for more, not less dialogue. NZ has already demonstrated that it can play a role in dialogue with North Korea as evidenced by the visit to Pyongyang of the former Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters, which was followed by his immediate visit to Washington. For these reasons we request that postponement of the Ambassador’s visit to Pyongyang be for a token period only and that the visit be re-scheduled within the next two months. Sincerely,
Don Borrie, Chairman Peter Wilson, Secretary NZ DPRK Society. 28th June 2010 Office of Hon. Murray McCully Minister of Foreign Affairs Private Bag, Parliament Buildings Wellington New Zealand.
Dear Reverend Borrie,
Thankyou for your email of 26 May inquiring about the timing of the next accreditation visit by New Zealand’s Ambassador to the Democratic People’s republic of Korea (DPRK). The New Zealand Government took the decision to postpone a scheduled visit this month. This reflects our grav e concerns at the findings of an investigation by international experts into the fatal sinking of the Republic of Korea naval vessel, the Cheonan. The conclusions reached by the inquiry constitute a serious and unprovoked challenge to the security on the Korean Peninsula. The DPRK leadership should be under no illusion as to the gravity with which the international community views this matter. New Zealand continues to urge the DPRK to alter its course from military and nuclear weapons development to engaging earnestly and responsibly with the rest of the world. It is my hope that they will heed this message and tensions on the Korean Peninsula will quickly return to a level that is conducive to a productive accreditation visit going ahead. Yours sincerely,
Hon. Murray McCully Minister of Foreign Affairs ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 26th May 2010 Rt Hon. M. McCully, Minister of Foreign Affairs , Parliament, Wellington.
Dear Mr McCully,
Noting your observation that “The North Korean leadership must refocus its efforts towards peace and dialogue” , on behalf of the NZ DPRK Society, I am seeking your assurance that the planned visit to the DPRK by the NZ Ambassador will be proceeding as planned. At this time when international relations with the DPRK are in a state of tension it is important that normal communications are maintained wherever possible. Our Society is fully supportive of maintaining dialogue at the Ambassadorial level, Yours sincerely, Don Borrie Chairman NZ DPRK Sociey The British current affairs magazine the New Statesman published an opinion piece entitled Bad Korea Moves by Nicholas Eberstad in its 21st January 2010 issue. The following letter was submitted to the New Statesman, but does not appear to have been published. Dear Sir, It was disappointing to read the piece 'Bad Korea Moves' written by Nicholas Eberstadt for a right-wing America think tank, uncritically reprinted in the New Statesman as if it was an objective report. As an agriculturalist who has worked on food production issues throughout the Asian region with UN agencies for 40 years, I (unlike Eberstadt) have travelled extensively through the North Korean countryside in the course of my duties visiting farm cooperatives and country food markets, freely talking with people at all levels of society. What this has taught me does not accord with Eberstadt's claims. Given the area of arable land and the extreme winter - which means a short growing season - it is physically impossible for North Korea to produce enough food to meet its population's needs. The country has always been, and always will be, dependant on imports of fuel and fertiliser to maximise crop yields plus top up imports of grain. Prior to the 1990's North Korean yields were amongst the highest in Asia. These dropped dramatically when the USSR collapsed and imports of fuel, fertiliser and grain ceased. The US/UN sanctions have prevented development of alternative trade linkages and exacerbated this situation. The famine of the mid '90's was not caused by a market collapse. The public distribution system did not 'fall apart' - it continued to operate but it did not have enough to distribute. It is ingenious of Eberstadt to claim that 'North Korea became the only urban, literate society ever to suffer famine in peacetime.' The long history of mankind is replete with examples. Something we all should be becoming more cognizant of, confronted with the sceptre of climate change. That includes scholars at right wing think tanks. It is also ingenious to claim that the famine occurred during peace time. Ask the North Koreans what they think of that! They would say that is a very sick joke. As far as they are concerned, the US is still at war with them. Their evidence? How about 28.500 US troops in 37 bases in South Korea and 50,000 US troops in 66 bases in Japan for starters? And sanctions which seriously hamper their attempts to trade and attract foreign investment and prevent them developing an economy which can produce and buy adequate food? The North Koreans have turned things around considerably since the 1990s but the big constraint on agricultural and economic development is the external one imposed by US policy. Since the collapse of the USSR, North Korea has been consistently asking for a cessation of hostilities and a Peace Agreement. A more useful article from Eberstadt would be an explanation as to why his government continues to rebuff this plea for peace. The losers in all of this are the 23 million innocent citizens of North Korea (fellow human beings) who continue to be short of food because of unhumanitarian US/UN sanctions. The US taxpayers are also innocent victims - they have to fork out the conservatively estimated US$40 billion annual cost of all those overseas bases and troops! Peter Wilson. Ambassador Libran N. Cabactulan, Chairman 2010 Review of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). January 2010 His Excellency, Ambassador Libran N. Cabactulan, President Elect, Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. 21st January 2010.
Dear Sir, The NZ DPRK Society has noted with interest that North Korea is one of the topics proposed for discussion at the Philippine NPT Workshop. In this regard we wish to offer you some comments and ask you two questions. As a civil society organisation in a country which, along with the Philippines and other countries, sent troops to the Korean War, it is a matter of dismay to us that no progress is being made towards ending the Armistice and signing of a Peace Agreement. Within the past few weeks North Korea has once again asked for Peace Agreement. The message back from the USA has been that there can be no consideration of a Peace Agreement until the North Koreans dismantle their Nuclear armament capability. This totally ignores the North Korean position which is that they only maintain a nuclear capability as a defensive posture and that given cessation of hostilities and agreement on a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula, they will completely forego any nuclear weapons capability. History is merely repeating itself in this exchange. For at least 20 years, the North Koreans have been asking for a cessation of hostilities and a peace agreement with the USA. The USA has proved incapable, or unwilling to enter into such an agreement. In a pointed statement six days after President Obama’s inauguration 12 months ago, former President Jimmy Carter said: “It could be worked out, in my opinion, in half a day........North Koreans, in my opinion, whom I know fairly well, have always been willing to forego their nuclear capability if they have diplomatic relations with the United States.” [1] Our Society has been monitoring North Korean affairs for over 35 years. From everything we have learned over this period of time, we concur with what President Carter said. Despite visits to North Korea by both former President Bill Clinton and Ambassador Bosworth, the situation has not changed in the past year. We are no closer to a Peace Agreement. The stalemate continues. North Korea considers that its adversary is the USA and that is why they have been asking the USA for a Peace Agreement. In fact the War was fought by a United Nations Force. The Armistice was signed by William K. Harrison, Lieutenant General, United States Army Senior Delegate on behalf of the United Nations Command Delegation. One would think that it is the UN’s responsibility to end the war with a Peace Agreement, but the UN seems to have abdicated this role to the USA who after 57 years seem incapable of carrying out this step. The North Korean position is that they want a Nuclear Free Korean Peninsula. A necessary pre-condition for this however is a cessation of all hostilities which means a Peace Agreement. To us this suggests that the NPT could perhaps act as a catalyst for the UN to take an active part in negotiating of a Peace Agreement. My first question to you is whether the NPT can play a role in re-activating the UN so that it takes the lead in reaching a Peace Agreement satisfactory to and signed by all parties as a first step to a Nuclear Free Zone. As you have extensive experience within the UN, my second question is what other agencies or offices within the UN System should, or could be involved in the facilitation of a Korean War Peace Agreement. Yours sincerely, Peter Wilson Secretary, NZ DPRK Society Honourable Murray McCully, NZ Government Minister of Foreign Affairs. January 2010 11th January 2010.
The Hon. Murray McCully, Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Dear Sir,
The NZ DPRK Society requests that you raise the issue of North Korea in your discussions with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
We ask that you assure her of the full support of New Zealand Government and the people of New Zealand in negotiating a rapprochement with the DPRK and the signing of a Peace Agreement to formally end the Korean War.
Fifty seven years after the signing of the Armistice, it is ridiculous that NZ. along with all the other countries who took part are still technically at war with North Korea. Only the USA can resolve this situation. All it requires to defuse the most serious threat to peace in the Asian Pacific region is the stroke of a pen.
North Korea claims that it wants a cessation of hostilities and a nuclear free peninsula. This means signing of a peace agreement commits them to become nuclear free. Just like NZ.
There does not appear to be much support domestically within the USA for a rapprochement with North Korea. It is therefore very important that Secretary Clinton be made aware that there is international support for the signing of a Peace Agreement.
Yours Sincerely,
Don Borrie, Chairman.
Peter Wilson, Secretary
C.C. Prime Minister John Key; Minister of Defence,Wayne Mapp; Chiarman of the Foreign Affairs Parliamentary Select Committee, John Hayes: Hon. Phil Goff, Leader of the NZ Labour Party (opposition). Honourable Murray McCully, NZ Government Minister of Foreign Affairs. 15th May 2009. The Minister, Foreign Affairs and Trade, Parliament, Wellington. 15 May,2009.
Dear Mr. McCully, On behalf of the Society I am writing to ask that the New Zealand Government give urgent consideration to making a priority food aid grant to the DPRK. According to the World Food Programme spokesperson in the DPRK, Lena Savelli, the situation in the DPRK is becoming dire. Entering into the lean season crops of rice and maize are rapidly running out. The WFP puts the deficit at 1.8 million metric tons. The WFP hopes to feed 6.2 million people in 2009 but to date have been unable to raise enough resources to reach all the affected people.
With food in short supply the fear now is that disease ,such as swine flu, could more readily take hold.
The Society asks that a distinction be made between humanitarian aid and policies relating to international disputes with the DPRK. Yours sincerely, Rev. Don Borrie, Chairman, NZ DPRK Society.
Letter From the Prime Minister of New Zealand. 18 September 2007 Clare Morrison, Clerk Presbytery of Wellington WELLINGTON, N.Z. Dear Clare Thank you for the letters dated 20 April 2007 and 30 August 2007 from your Presbytery calling for the New Zealand Government to enter into a peace agreernent with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). New Zealand is a firm believer in the importance of multilateral and co-operative efforts for achieving peace and security on the Korean Peninsula. The Six Party Talks appear close to making progress, and New Zealand supports that process. Thus I do not think unilateral action by New Zealand at this time would be warranted. The issue you raise also touches on aspects of international law. A peace treaty or a declaration of peace is no longer considered the sole determining factor of whether a country is still at war or not. That is particularly the case since the establishment of the United Nations. Thank you for writing. I would like to reiterate the New Zealand Government's commitment to a peaceful, stable, and denuclearised Korean Peninsula Yours sincerely, Helen Clark Prime Minister Letter to the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Helen Clark from Moderator of Moderator, Presbytery of Wellington Dear Prime Minister,
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