U.S. Cancellation of Korean Peace Summit

May 24, 2018

U.S. Cancellation of Korean Peace Summit

Padmini Arhant

President Donald Trump cancelling the peace summit between United States and North Korea scheduled on June 12th, 2018 in Singapore demonstrates lack of self confidence in peace making as stated previously on this site, a process much harder than going to war. 

United States demands and expectations prior to direct dialogue was premature and indicative of U.S. intent to gain everything in return for nothing. United States presence in Korean Peninsula accompanied by continuous threats until this moment remains the cause for North Korea’s nuclear status.

The U.S. policy makers and strategists behind stymieing the peace meeting are required to realize that aggression, belligerence and unreasonable terms and conditions never constitute greatness or supremacy.

United States exempting self from any compliance on international law in respecting other nations sovereignty and territorial integrity seriously impairs credibility and trustworthiness, the core elements in any negotiations.

United States foreign policy is well known and not appreciated by overwhelming majority in the world. The military bases worldwide including the Korean Peninsula depriving global population peaceful normal existence is the predominant factor in nuclear proliferation with United States and allies being the originators and proliferators of such concept and trend.

The aggressor cannot expect the target to simply submit to extraordinary positions particularly with U.S. legacy on defaults in meeting the obligations witnessed time and time again. On North Korean issue U.S. demilitarization and lifting illegal sanctions are necessary considering the illegitimate grounds for such actions.

No nation can be dictated by another especially when the latter is positioned as provocateurs and deny that nation’s citizens self-defense and deterrence to military maneuvers including nuclear capabilities in their territory. 

Reiterating the fact, nuclear disarmament is no longer an option but a mandatory requirement on all without exception. United States and all other major nuclear powers along with the rest have to begin denuclearization. The measure is incumbent upon United States to lead the world starting with self disarmament so others could follow suit simultaneously across the spectrum. 

As for the critics claim on North Korea’s gesture in shutting down nuclear site as the site rendered unusable and damages to local environment fail to recognize the key factor that ceasing nuclear testing is the roadmap to nuclear non-proliferation and denuclearization. Something the major nuclear states and others in the nuclear club have not committed to with their relentless overland and subterranean nuclear testing carried out in either own or others backyard contrasting the rules imposed on North Korea, Iran and anyone deemed adversary. 

North Korea has come a long way in releasing the U.S. espionage agents to which there has been no reciprocation from the United States that should have been delivered in removing the sanctions. North Korea has closed the nuclear site and United States reaction is cancellation of peace summit.

Clearly among the sides refusing to even meet half way let alone making any concessions is the United States.  The current U.S. administration cowering to pressure from specific sources entirely for vested interests confirms the status quo. 

The forces in control of U.S.foreign policy with no desire for peace and preference for profitability from warfare care less about loss of innocent lives and destruction resulting in such pursuits. 

The wars in Afghanistan, Syria,  Iraq, Libya and Yemen to name a few apparently not enough to convince the anti-peace factions to strive for peaceful and constructive means such as the high level peace meeting to resolve Korean crisis. 

United States has unique opportunity to change the image from provocation and military intervention to promoting peace and positive development. 

Peace making requires courage and commitment that is possible upon the participants assuming the leadership role unlike the standard decisions clarifying the status as political and submissive to influential directives against historic achievement.

United States moving forward with North Korea to hold the peace summit per earlier schedule on June 12th, 2018 in Singapore is imperative to prove U.S. genuine will to end stalemate in Korean affair.

Hopefully rationality and peaceful overture would prevail in concluding skirmishes and tensions in Korean Peninsula.

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

Author & Presenter PadminiArhant.com

Prakrithi. PadminiArhant.com 

Korean Peace Summit

May 22, 2018

  1. Korean Peace Summit

Padmini Arhant

Peace and Success are hard to achieve without hard work, perseverance and commitment.

War is easy with just a handful’s drumroll and pandemonium creating the environment of fear, skepticism and failures that are inevitable upon anyone pursuing the course with the intent to undermine positive outcome.

Peace process on Korean affair requires preparedness to listen, understand and accommodate each others genuine concerns and reasonable requests for a fair exchange. Anytime the side exerting military and economic pressure on the other side through provocative drills and excruciating sanctions place preemptive demands in the absence of any concessions on their part, such negotiations are not going to succeed considering the imbalance and excessive expectations for political and strategic gains. 

United States has a tough role in building trust given recent and past defaults on peace accord and promises that are never kept or slighted to appease certain influential forces agenda. As a result, trusting United States with a legacy violating US end of the bargain is challenging for all involved to make peace. 

That doesn’t mean Untied States is not capable to resolve crisis. As a matter of fact barring political speculations and expediency as well as vested interests that often dominate high level meetings and discourse, the focus on common goals benefiting all sides would be the gateway to peace deal. 

At this point in time, transformation of existing Korean armistice to irrevocable peace treaty is paramount. The simultaneous termination of North Korean nuclear testing and United States military exercise are critical to enforce the peace accord. One cannot insist the other side quit engagement without another ceasing the activity as they are interlinked with North Korea reacting to United States and South Korea’s military rehearsal at DPRK’s border. Again without a shadow of doubt, United States military training over decades deploying latest military hardware, technology and nuclear capabilities including over 30,000 troops in Korean Peninsula are legitimate reasons behind security threat to DPRK that prompted North Korea ‘s nuclear status.

The situation has to change in a transparent manner with US demilitarization and North Korea abandoning nuclear testing allowing both North and South Korea to normalize relations in a peaceful approach using diplomacy and constructive dialogue at all levels of interaction. 

The other factor worth remembering is the U.S. and North Korea peace summit has great potential for economic partnerships between the two nations that is otherwise wasted in indefinite stalemate.

There are two main options in the United States, South and North Korea present state.

One is to retain status quo which means escalation of tension and  regional instability contributing to global volatility that should be prevented via rapprochement. 

The other being demonstrating leadership and courage in ending hostility and begin a new chapter in peaceful settlement of all issues with honesty and integrity. In doing so, the population on both sides of Korea as well as the people in Asia Pacific would have the opportunity to coexist peacefully and experience economic growth and development especially in North Korea that has been denied due to hegemonic ambitions until now.

War offers deaths, destruction and mutual annihilation whereas progress and prosperity accompanies peace.

Making peace is the practical and prudent measure that guarantees better prospects now and in the future. Notwithstanding regional and global peace and security. 

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant 

Author PadminiArhant.com

Prakrithi. PadminiArhant.com 

North Korea – U.S. Peace Summit

May 16, 2018

North Korea – U.S. Peace Summit

Padmini Arhant

The reports on North Korea’s possible withdrawal from the upcoming peace summit tentatively scheduled on June 12th, 2018 in Singapore citing the ongoing military exercise between United States and South Korea and the U.S. officials demand for complete denuclearization obviously deserves fair assessment.

As mentioned on many occasions to resolve any crisis, the cause must be identified and addressed effectively making way for any appropriate solutions. On North Korea issue, the United States military drills with South Korea in Korean Peninsula has been the bone of contention prompting North Korea to seek nuclear option in self-defense and deterrence in the first place.

After long skirmishes and threats from both sides i.e. United States and North Korea, the olive branch exchanged between North and South Korea in the wake of Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea in February this year set the pace for peace talks between the two neighbors with hopes and expectations on all sides to diffuse long standing tensions ushering in the era of peace and normal relations in Korean Peninsula.

The earlier interaction between the two leaders of Korea, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in was indicative of some progress in reaching the milestone bringing the two leaderships to reconcile many differences and among them the three key proposals were to transform the current armistice to permanent peace treaty, North Korea terminating nuclear testing and economic ties along with family reunion among Korean members were to be formalized on Wednesday, May 16th, 2018.

North Korea released the three Americans held hostage on espionage charges and also made a public announcement via state media that North Korea is scheduled to shut down the nuclear testing site and facility followed by an official ceremony on May 23rd – May 25th this year.

Now the U.S. military training of South Korean forces claiming to be in preparation of defense strategy for ally South Korea in the middle of peace process impairs faith and credibility necessary on all sides to rescind activities that has been contributing to the escalation of conflict.

Anytime when one side makes demands on the other despite the former having been the source of the problem from the beginning with relentless military maneuvers and display of artillery power including nuclear submarines at the doorstep of another in a manner that is intimidating and provocative,

The element of trust that is essential in all negotiations is jeopardized due to lack of commitment to meet their end of the deal.

United States military presence in Korean Peninsula is similar to their engagement worldwide much to the angst and frustration of nations they deem adversary. These states are expected to accept the situation as permanent setting regardless of such disposition undermining sovereignty and security.

United States military has been training South Korean forces since the emergence of that state without any determination of making South Korea self-reliant and there appears to be no end to the military base in Korea like the operation in Afghanistan.

How long does it take for the military such as the United States projected as the formidable and superior defense force in several aspects with capabilities to provide training and guidance enabling the trainees to qualify in self-defense mechanism?

Certainly, the course could not run into decades which means there are inherent deficiencies in the method or the objectives are not necessarily confined to the stated position with protracted goals to establish indefinite stay evident not only in Korea but also in Afghanistan, Middle East, the Baltics and the rest of the world.

South Korea on their part need to clarify the status to own citizens and their extended family members across the border in North for a truly democratic nation would not eternally allow or submit to foreign troops deployment under the guise of strengthening military prowess.

Needless to say, concessions are required from all sides based on their involvement that led to constant clashes with clear and transparent participation in the summit.

Again, reiterating earlier statement on this matter, denuclearization is incumbent not only on North Korea but in fact all nuclear states with United States and other major nuclear powers viz. Britain, France, Russia, China leading Israel, India and Pakistan along with NATO de facto in possession of nuclear arsenal are to be disarmed without exceptions to establish a nuclear free zone that would guarantee global peace and security and not otherwise.

The concept of responsible vs. reckless in nuclear status has been visited several times and adequately ascertained that all nuclear states pose a threat to humanity.

Accordingly the originators in this game i.e. United States and other dominant nuclear forces mentioned above bear responsibility to begin nuclear disarmament given their imperial legacy and ongoing illegal invasion and occupation of foreign land as well as territorial annexations necessitating nuclear option for those states as viable even though the maintenance and monitoring of nuclear sites proved an enormous liability for taxpayers and nations struggling with the costs of nuclear affordability and investments in the economy.

South Korea has to demonstrate independence in decision making without being influenced by foreign military power i.e. United States in ending military routines once and for all. South Korea population are entitled to forge normal ties with their families in North and begin a new chapter renewing economic partnerships, cultural and relevantly converting the armistice into irreversible peace accord. All of these are achievable upon demilitarization of the Korean peninsula paving the path for peaceful coexistence that has been prevented with United States exerting authority on Korean affairs.

The leadership qualities are tested in these times demanding courage and sincerity to embark on a peace mission abandoning aggression visible in military undertakings attributed to current impediments depriving the people in Korea on either side to stabilize and normalize the environment.

There are always implicit and explicit hawkish overtones attempting to stymie successful peace agreements as they are regarded unfavorable to personal and vested interests not to mention other extraordinary plans ignoring the consequences of such motives exacerbating human suffering and interjecting undesirable conditions.

South Korea should prioritize peace, stability and economic prosperity for all in Korea and move forward as a free sovereign state in holding direct talks with North Korean leadership and officials that would confirm the initiatives trustworthy and reliable for that is key to any endeavors more so of this pact having the prospects to turn history towards positive and peaceful direction.

I urge the South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to come together and ratify the alteration of armistice into peace treaty in addition to facilitating free flow of economic goods and services in Kaesong industrial complex in North Korea and consolidating Korean cultural values that are significant to present and future generations in their respective country.

United States role exemplified in demilitarization and lifting economic sanctions against North Korean citizens is vital as these actions would authenticate United States integrity in changing history from acrimony to harmony.

North Korea ceasing nuclear testing and closing nuclear site is prudent and proceed to do so that would further affirm international support recognizing the seriousness of such pledge.

I convey my best wishes to the people in North and South Korea as well as the leaderships and officials on all sides including United States striving hard to accomplish ever lasting peace that is long overdue in Korean Peninsula and Asia Pacific region.

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

Author & Presenter PadminiArhant.com

Prakrithi.PadminiArhant.com

UNSC Dissolution – Part 1

April 27, 2018

UNSC Dissolution – Part 1

Padmini Arhant

Korea – Peace Summit

Padmini Arhant

 

 

Padmini Arhant

                                                                           Author & Presenter PadminiArhant.com

                                                                                     Prakrithi.PadminiArhant.com

Thank you.