Forum takes stand against sanctions on Korea

Ramsey Clark

“Who is the threat to world peace—the U.S. or Korea?” was the provocative title of a forum held in New York Nov. 1 at a meeting hall near the United Nations.

Hwa Young Lee

Organized by the Congress for Korean Reunification, International Action Center, Korea Truth Commission, and Korean Americans Against War and Neoliberalism, the meeting took a strong stand against the threat of sanctions on North Korea by the U.S. and the U.N.

Kwan Ho Cho

Korea’s tortured history—colonized by Japan, divided by U.S. troops after World War II, the North invaded by the U.S. in 1950 with acquiescence by the U.N., a horrible three-year war that killed millions, and then more than half a century of economic sanctions and nuclear threats from Washington—was described by both Korean and U.S. speakers.

Hwa Young Lee from the Korea Truth Commission explained the intricacies of U.S. efforts to cut off North Korea’s access to international banks and commerce. Former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark made clear the enormity of Washington’s crimes against Korea, emphasizing that constant U.S. threats had forced the North to find ways to defend itself at a time when the U.S. government was threatening it with nuclear attack.

Larry Holmes

Kwan Ho Choi of the Congress for Korean Reunification went over the pain caused by the division of the Korean nation and the desire of all Koreans to reunify.

Omowale Clay

Larry Holmes of the Troops Out Now Coalition and Omowale Clay of the December 12th Coalition related the struggle against U.S. militarism abroad to the movements at home for jobs, equality and an end to all forms of racism and oppression.

—Report by Deirdre Griswold,

photos by Monica Moorehead