The delegation of Japanese and South Korean parliamentarians will hold roundtable events with: a) US legislators on Capitol Hill, and b) Think Tanks and NGO representatives at the office of Citizens for Global Solutions.
1. Denuclearization in North-East Asia:Capitol Hill event - for legislators and congressional staff
Outline: The US has a vital role in supporting denuclearization and security in the North-East Asia region, especially as regards the security of key US allies Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK). Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones (NWFZs) have proven to be successful in preventing/halting nuclear proliferation and building regional security in Antarctica, Latin America, the Pacific, South-East Asia, Central Asia, Africa and Outer Space.
The proposal for a North-East Asia NWFZ, based on the 3+3 model, is gaining interest and traction amongst legislators, policy analysts, diplomats and civil society organizations in the region. The model envisages a NWFZ that includes Japan, ROK and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea), supported by binding regional security assurances from China, Russia and the United States. This discussion will provide an opportunity for legislators from Japan and ROK to discuss the initiative with US counterparts and Congressional staff.
Program:
Opening comments: Senator Edward J. Markey
Opening presentation: Morten Halperin (USA). Senior Advisor to the Open Society Foundation and the 3+3 Coalition for a NE Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone. Former policy expert and adviser in the Obama, Clinton and Nixon Administrations.
Comments from members of the Japan/ROK parliamentary delegation:
- Hon. HARAGUCHI Kazuhiro (Japan).Co-President, P3+3. Member, Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan.
- Hon. HONG, Ihk-Pyo (ROK).Co-President P3+3. Member, Democratic Party of Korea. PNND Council Member
- Hon. KONDO, Shoichi (Japan).PNND Japan Secretary-General. Member, Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan
- Hon. ABE, Tomoko (Japan).Member, Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan
- Hon. KUSHIBUCHI, Mari (Japan).Member Reiwa Shinsengumi Party of Japan.
Discussion with US legislators and congressional staff
Closing Comments: Hon. Tadashi Inuzuka (Japan)Executive Director, 3+3 Coalition for a NE Asia NWFZ. PNND Council Member. Former Senator for Nagasaki.
2. Parliamentary actions for nuclear risk reduction, disarmament and common security: An in-person discussion featuring a delegation of legislators from Japan and South Korea
Event outline:
Political progress on nuclear risk-reduction and disarmament initiatives is enhanced by cooperation between legislators and civil society globally. This roundtable discussion is being held on the occasion of the visit to Washington DC by a delegation of legislators from Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) and in conjunction with the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons (official date, September 26).
It will include a discussion of denuclearization in North-East Asia focusing on the 3+3 model for Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (NWFZ), which is gaining interest and traction amongst legislators, policy analysts, diplomats and civil society organizations in the region. The model envisages a NWFZ that includes Japan, ROK and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea), supported by binding regional security assurances from China, Russia and the United States.
The event will also include introductions to other nuclear risk-reduction and disarmament initiatives being advanced through the inter-parliamentary bodies Inter-Parliamentary Union and OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and at the United Nations. These include Assuring our Common Future (a guide to parliamentary action in support of disarmament for security and sustainable development), the global NoFirstUse and Move the Nuclear Weapons Money campaigns and the Common Security v Nuclear Deterrence initiative.
About the Japan/Korea delegation
The delegation of Japanese and Korean legislators is meeting with US legislators on Capital Hill prior to this roundtable event with civil society. The delegation is led by Hon. Tadashi Inuzuka (Japan), Executive Director, 3+3 Coalition for a NE Asia NWFZ. PNND Council Member. Former Senator for Nagasaki. It includes:
- Hon. HARAGUCHI Kazuhiro (Japan), Co-President 3+3 Coalition. Member, Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan;
- Hon. HONG, Ihk-Pyo (ROK), Co-President 3+3 Coalition. Member, Democratic Party of Korea. PNND Council Member;
- Hon. KONDO, Shoichi (Japan). PNND Japan Secretary-General. Member, Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan;
- Hon. ABE, Tomoko (Japan), Member, Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan
- Hon. KUSHIBUCHI, Mari (Japan), Member Reiwa Shinsengumi Party of Japan.
Registration required. For more information contact info@pnnd.org.