▶ ■Concluding the Washington Conference of the Special Committee on Global Strategy
▶ 38 members from 11 countries attended for 3 days and 2 nights
On the morning of the 31st, the third day of the PPC Global Strategy Special Committee conference event, the results of discussions by five subcommittees are being announced.
The Washington Conference of the Global Strategy Special Committee of the Advisory Council for Democratic and Peaceful Unification concluded on the 31st with the presentation of various action plans for President Yoon Seok-yeol’s ‘8.15 Unification Doctrine’, including the appointment of honorary public relations ambassadors.
Hosted by the Secretariat of Unification and Unification, the third day of the conference was held at the Westin Hotel in Tysons, Virginia under the theme of ‘August 15 Unification Doctrine and International Cooperation Plan’ for 3 days and 2 nights. Participants from Japan, China (including Hong Kong), India, Australia, the United States, Mexico, 38 global special committee members from 11 countries, including the UK, Germany, Switzerland, and Malawi, attended.
In the United States, eight branches participated, including Washington, New York, Boston, Houston, Dallas, Denver, Seattle, and Chicago.
Presided over by Special Committee Secretary Kim Hyeong-seon (Chairman of the Houston Council), the committee members held discussions in five departments: medicine/law, politics/diplomacy, economy/industry, culture/art, and science/technology, and announced the results.
Commissioner Kang Dong-hwan (Berlin, Germany) suggested holding the first Hangeul Day workshop in Virginia along with an archery tour workshop as an action plan in the field of culture and arts, and Commissioner Jo Sol (Secretary of the British Council) suggested influencing others as an action plan in the field of politics and diplomacy. It was proposed to spread consensus on unification by appointing influential celebrities as honorary public relations ambassadors.
Regarding the medical and legal fields, Commissioner Yoo Hyeon-kyeong (USA) emphasized the need to establish mental health measures as a prerequisite for preparing for social integration after unification, and Commissioner Lee Dong-won (Hong Kong) related to the economy and industry, through the participation of international investors. It was proposed to create a ‘Global Unification Korea Fund’ to finance unification economic development.
Regarding science and technology, Commissioner Seung Won-seo (Tokyo, Japan) suggested, “Let’s encourage North Korean people’s continued interest in unification by recycling the results of the forum into news and content.”
Before starting the discussion, Kim Hyung-seon, secretary of the special committee, introduced things to be careful about when working as a member of the National Assembly in relation to the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), which requires registration when acting on behalf of another government in the United States.
Before starting the discussion, Secretary-General Tae Young-ho said, “North Korea defined inter-Korean relations as ‘two hostile states’ at the end of last year and does not use the word unification, but using the word unification in South Korea is becoming a problem as it is perceived as unification by absorption.” “Previously, it was not a problem because North and South Korea jointly mentioned unification of the Korean Peninsula,” he said.
Secretary-General Tae said, “Members of the Unification Council must engage in public diplomacy to gain support from the international community for unification and spread consensus on the direction in which a unified Korea is headed, but it is not easy to directly receive statements of support from members of the House of Representatives.” “It will be possible to take a picture with the member of the National Assembly while holding a sign supporting a unified Korea,” he said.
Attending the presentation of the discussion results were Secretary-General Tae Young-ho, Vice-Chairman of the Americas Regional Council Kang Il-han, Global Strategy Special Committee Chairman Oh Byeong-moon, and President of the Washington Unification Advisory Council Linda Han.
The meeting ended with a farewell luncheon hosted by Linda Han, President of the Washington Council, and the members visited the Korean War Veterans Memorial Park in Washington, D.C., laid a wreath, and concluded the event with a visit to the Korean Embassy in the United States.
Reporter Lee Chang-yeol>
