Tuesday, March 4, 2025 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM United Nations Church Center, 8th Floor, New York
[TPNW 3rd MSP] Side Event: "Justice for Korean A-Bomb Victims: The 2026 People’s Tribunal"
Participants of the People's Tribunal Side Event.
During the 3rd Meeting of States Parties (MSP) to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), many side events organized by anti-nuclear peace organizations took place.
On March 4, the International Organizing Committee of the A-Bomb Tribunal held a side event at the United Nations Church Center, focusing on the People's Tribunal. Over 60 participants attended, listening to testimonies from victims who are plaintiffs in the Tribunal, followed by presentations from partner organizations.
The event began with opening remarks from Young-dae Ko, Co-Representative of SPARK.
Co-Representative Young-dae Ko started by saying, "It has been three years since we embarked on a journey to hold the United States legally responsible for the atomic bombings in 1945 through the International People’s Tribunal." He also expressed his hope that this journey, culminating in the Tribunal in New York next year, would be successfully completed.
Young-dae Ko explained that the primary objective of the International People’s Tribunal is "to demand compensation and a formal apology from the U.S. government for Korean atomic bomb victims, based on the argument that the U.S. atomic bombings in 1945 were illegal." He further noted that "this demand for an apology carries the lifelong grief of the claimants."
SPARK Co-Representative Young-dae Ko delivers opening remarks.
Regarding the current significance of the Tribunal, Young-dae Ko added, "Another purpose is to abolish the U.S. extended deterrence policy on the Korean Peninsula and pave the way for denuclearization in the region, where nuclear confrontation has been intensifying." He pointed out, "The abolition of nuclear weapons is impossible as long as deterrence policies are openly accepted," citing the 1996 International Court of Justice (ICJ) advisory opinion on nuclear weapons, which states that "if the envisaged use of force is itself unlawful, the stated readiness to use it would be a threat prohibited under Article 2, paragraph 4 of the UN Charter." Young-dae Ko concluded that "proving the illegality of the 1945 atomic bombings suggests the legitimacy of abandoning the extended deterrence policy on the Korean Peninsula, which openly advocates the preemptive use of nuclear weapons and the nuclear threat toward North Korea."
Young-dae Ko emphasized that the purpose of the International People’s Tribunal is broad, ranging from seeking an apology from the United States to promoting global denuclearization. He stated, "This reflects the aspirations of anti-nuclear peace activists who desire the complete elimination of nuclear weapons, implying that the International People’s Tribunal is a common task for all anti-nuclear activists." He called for active participation from anti-nuclear activists and experts worldwide to ensure the success of the Tribunal.
Video on the History of the Korean Atomic Bomb Victims Movement
Following Young-dae Ko’s remarks, a video documenting the history of the Korean Atomic Bomb Victims movement was shown. Most participants were deeply engaged in the video, and some even requested copies afterward.
Brad Wolf, Co-Coordinator of the International Organizing Committee, then gave an overview of the People's Tribunal, including its background, progress, objectives, and the composition of the tribunal judges.
Brad Wolf, Co-Coordinator, moderates the event.
Next, plaintiffs in the Tribunal—Jin-tae Shim, Jung-Soon Park, Jung-Soon Han, and Tae-jae Lee—shared their testimonies, explaining why they are participating as plaintiffs in the People's Tribunal. View Full Testimony by Jin-tae Shim
Jin-tae Shim shared his story: "My parents were forced into labor by the Japanese colonial government and exposed to the atomic bomb in Hiroshima, barely surviving and returning to Korea. However, due to poverty, survival was so difficult that we often went hungry more than we ate." He also stated, "Since 2001, I have been serving as the head of the Hapcheon branch of the Korean Atomic Bomb Victims Association, witnessing the suffering of Korean atomic bomb victims caused by radiation exposure." He expressed, "Why, why should we die like this?"
He further emphasized, "The fact that there are victims but no perpetrators is something I believe is impossible to accept in a lifetime." He concluded by saying, "That is why I am participating in the International People’s Tribunal on the Atomic Bomb, seeking to question the illegality of the atomic bombings, demand recognition of U.S. responsibility, and ask for an apology and compensation." View Full Testimony by Jung-Soon Park
Jung-Soon Park, who was exposed to the atomic bomb at the age of 12, described the events in vivid detail: "That day, as usual, the air raid alarm sounded. Suddenly, a brilliant flash of light, like a lightning bolt, blazed before my eyes. The wind rose, and a deafening explosion shook the entire world. The house collapsed instantly with the explosion, and our family was buried under the debris. In the chaos, my mother pulled us out, one by one." According to her testimony, "The streets were filled with the bodies of the dead, people severely burned, and others who had lost limbs." She also recalled the forced repatriation of victims by the GHQ (General Headquarters) of the Allied powers, during which Koreans were restricted in the amount of belongings and money they could carry, leading to further suffering after their return to Korea.
Jung-Soon Park shared, "I have lived through 80 years of suffering, sadness, anger, and frustration after losing my parents and siblings to the effects of the atomic bomb. And now, seeing my children also suffering from illness and mental anguish, I can no longer stay silent." She continued, "I believe that being public with my own statements now is a way to fulfill my duty as a first-generation survivor to the second and third generations of atomic bomb victims. That is why I participated as a plaintiff in the International People's Tribunal."
Participants attentively listen to the testimonies of the People's Tribunal plaintiffs.
Jung-Soon Han, a second-generation atomic bomb victim, shared, "As the fifth of six children, I started feeling pain in my legs when I was young. By my twenties, I couldn’t walk or stand properly." She described how, after giving birth, she could not even stand, dragging herself across the floor, leaving a trail of blood from her scraped hands. She said, "Second-generation victims of the atomic bomb in Korea, like myself, live their lives suffering from the inherited effects of radiation exposure, but we are not even recognized as atomic bomb victims." She pointed out, "Neither Japan, which started the war, nor the U.S., which dropped the atomic bomb, has offered a single word of recognition or apology for the lasting effects of the bombing, even after 80 years." She concluded, "I want to hold the U.S. accountable for its responsibility in dropping the atomic bomb, demand an apology, and seek compensation so that we will have a nuclear-free world with no more nuclear victims like me." View Full Testimony by Tae-jae Lee
Tae-jae Lee, a second-generation atomic bomb victim and the president of the Korean Atomic Bomb Victims Descendants Association, testified about the physical and social suffering endured by many descendants of atomic bomb victims, who not only suffer from physical pain but also from social stigma, hiding their bomb exposure. He said, "The victims continue to suffer and die in pain to this day, yet the perpetrators have not even offered a single word of apology or compensation. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing. The U.S., which is responsible for the 1945 atomic bombing, must apologize to the victims and provide compensation. Furthermore, the U.S. must join the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) to prevent the use of nuclear weapons in the future."
Following the testimonies, several international partner organizations involved in the People's Tribunal shared their thoughts.
Activists from partner organizations present panel discussions.
John Reuwer of World Beyond War said, "In a time when governments are squandering their legitimacy by ignoring the rule of law, this Tribunal asserts that ordinary people can stand by the rule of law and call leaders to uphold it. International law can help denuclearize and demilitarize the Korean Peninsula and eventually the world."
Ann Wright of Veterans for Peace reaffirmed her support for the People's Tribunal, emphasizing that Americans must actively assist Korean atomic bomb victims where the U.S. government has failed.
Colleen Moore of the UMC General Board of Church and Society proposed using the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing as a catalyst for passing a congressional resolution recognizing the Korean atomic bomb victims in the U.S.
Sean William Conner of the IPB (International Peace Bureau) stated, "The IPB and our international network of organizations are proud to support the IPT. We hope that its message is listened to in Washington, and in cities and states around the world; that governments and citizens alike come with open ears and minds, listen to the messages of the Korean Hibakusha, and commit themselves to abolishing nuclear weapons."
Activists from partner organizations present panel discussions.
Yayoi Tsuchida of Gensuikyo (Japan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs) expressed that Japan must also play a role in ensuring Korean atomic bomb victims receive the support they deserve and announced plans for promotional activities in Japan.
Mari Inoue from the Manhattan Project for a Nuclear-Free World proposed that Korean atomic bomb victims testify at the upcoming World Nuclear Victims Forum in Hiroshima in October and pledged to continue supporting efforts to secure official U.S. apologies and compensation for Korean victims.
Margaret Engel of Peace Action New York State reflected on how she had learned during her school years that the atomic bombings were considered a necessary evil to prevent greater loss of life, and emphasized the importance of educating students. She highlighted the People's Tribunal as a critical opportunity to share awareness about the U.S.'s role in nuclear policy and history.
Miho Tanaka of Kakuwaka Hiroshima expressed that the 2026 People's Tribunal will provide a platform to expose Japan’s colonial responsibility and America’s nuclear colonialism, further strengthening the moral foundation for true nuclear abolition. She also expressed her intention to join the International Organizing Committee of the People's Tribunal.
Hye-ran Oh, Executive Director of SPARK, was scheduled to introduce specific plans for preparing the Tribunal’s proceedings, including the upcoming 3rd Online International Forum, but was unable to do so due to time constraints.
The event, which lasted nearly two hours, was conducted with great focus from the participants, especially with regard to the victim testimonies.
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
United Nations Church Center, 8th Floor, New York
[TPNW 3rd MSP] Side Event: "Justice for Korean A-Bomb Victims: The 2026 People’s Tribunal"
Participants of the People's Tribunal Side Event.
During the 3rd Meeting of States Parties (MSP) to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), many side events organized by anti-nuclear peace organizations took place.
On March 4, the International Organizing Committee of the A-Bomb Tribunal held a side event at the United Nations Church Center, focusing on the People's Tribunal. Over 60 participants attended, listening to testimonies from victims who are plaintiffs in the Tribunal, followed by presentations from partner organizations.
Click here to view the full transcripts of the presentations
The event began with opening remarks from Young-dae Ko, Co-Representative of SPARK.
Co-Representative Young-dae Ko started by saying, "It has been three years since we embarked on a journey to hold the United States legally responsible for the atomic bombings in 1945 through the International People’s Tribunal." He also expressed his hope that this journey, culminating in the Tribunal in New York next year, would be successfully completed.
Young-dae Ko explained that the primary objective of the International People’s Tribunal is "to demand compensation and a formal apology from the U.S. government for Korean atomic bomb victims, based on the argument that the U.S. atomic bombings in 1945 were illegal." He further noted that "this demand for an apology carries the lifelong grief of the claimants."
SPARK Co-Representative Young-dae Ko delivers opening remarks.
Regarding the current significance of the Tribunal, Young-dae Ko added, "Another purpose is to abolish the U.S. extended deterrence policy on the Korean Peninsula and pave the way for denuclearization in the region, where nuclear confrontation has been intensifying." He pointed out, "The abolition of nuclear weapons is impossible as long as deterrence policies are openly accepted," citing the 1996 International Court of Justice (ICJ) advisory opinion on nuclear weapons, which states that "if the envisaged use of force is itself unlawful, the stated readiness to use it would be a threat prohibited under Article 2, paragraph 4 of the UN Charter." Young-dae Ko concluded that "proving the illegality of the 1945 atomic bombings suggests the legitimacy of abandoning the extended deterrence policy on the Korean Peninsula, which openly advocates the preemptive use of nuclear weapons and the nuclear threat toward North Korea."
Young-dae Ko emphasized that the purpose of the International People’s Tribunal is broad, ranging from seeking an apology from the United States to promoting global denuclearization. He stated, "This reflects the aspirations of anti-nuclear peace activists who desire the complete elimination of nuclear weapons, implying that the International People’s Tribunal is a common task for all anti-nuclear activists." He called for active participation from anti-nuclear activists and experts worldwide to ensure the success of the Tribunal.
Video on the History of the Korean Atomic Bomb Victims Movement
Following Young-dae Ko’s remarks, a video documenting the history of the Korean Atomic Bomb Victims movement was shown. Most participants were deeply engaged in the video, and some even requested copies afterward.
Brad Wolf, Co-Coordinator of the International Organizing Committee, then gave an overview of the People's Tribunal, including its background, progress, objectives, and the composition of the tribunal judges.
Brad Wolf, Co-Coordinator, moderates the event.
Next, plaintiffs in the Tribunal—Jin-tae Shim, Jung-Soon Park, Jung-Soon Han, and Tae-jae Lee—shared their testimonies, explaining why they are participating as plaintiffs in the People's Tribunal.
View Full Testimony by Jin-tae Shim
Jin-tae Shim shared his story: "My parents were forced into labor by the Japanese colonial government and exposed to the atomic bomb in Hiroshima, barely surviving and returning to Korea. However, due to poverty, survival was so difficult that we often went hungry more than we ate." He also stated, "Since 2001, I have been serving as the head of the Hapcheon branch of the Korean Atomic Bomb Victims Association, witnessing the suffering of Korean atomic bomb victims caused by radiation exposure." He expressed, "Why, why should we die like this?"
He further emphasized, "The fact that there are victims but no perpetrators is something I believe is impossible to accept in a lifetime." He concluded by saying, "That is why I am participating in the International People’s Tribunal on the Atomic Bomb, seeking to question the illegality of the atomic bombings, demand recognition of U.S. responsibility, and ask for an apology and compensation."
View Full Testimony by Jung-Soon Park
Jung-Soon Park, who was exposed to the atomic bomb at the age of 12, described the events in vivid detail: "That day, as usual, the air raid alarm sounded. Suddenly, a brilliant flash of light, like a lightning bolt, blazed before my eyes. The wind rose, and a deafening explosion shook the entire world. The house collapsed instantly with the explosion, and our family was buried under the debris. In the chaos, my mother pulled us out, one by one." According to her testimony, "The streets were filled with the bodies of the dead, people severely burned, and others who had lost limbs." She also recalled the forced repatriation of victims by the GHQ (General Headquarters) of the Allied powers, during which Koreans were restricted in the amount of belongings and money they could carry, leading to further suffering after their return to Korea.
Jung-Soon Park shared, "I have lived through 80 years of suffering, sadness, anger, and frustration after losing my parents and siblings to the effects of the atomic bomb. And now, seeing my children also suffering from illness and mental anguish, I can no longer stay silent." She continued, "I believe that being public with my own statements now is a way to fulfill my duty as a first-generation survivor to the second and third generations of atomic bomb victims. That is why I participated as a plaintiff in the International People's Tribunal."
Participants attentively listen to the testimonies of the People's Tribunal plaintiffs.
View Full Testimony by Jung-Soon Han
Jung-Soon Han, a second-generation atomic bomb victim, shared, "As the fifth of six children, I started feeling pain in my legs when I was young. By my twenties, I couldn’t walk or stand properly." She described how, after giving birth, she could not even stand, dragging herself across the floor, leaving a trail of blood from her scraped hands. She said, "Second-generation victims of the atomic bomb in Korea, like myself, live their lives suffering from the inherited effects of radiation exposure, but we are not even recognized as atomic bomb victims." She pointed out, "Neither Japan, which started the war, nor the U.S., which dropped the atomic bomb, has offered a single word of recognition or apology for the lasting effects of the bombing, even after 80 years." She concluded, "I want to hold the U.S. accountable for its responsibility in dropping the atomic bomb, demand an apology, and seek compensation so that we will have a nuclear-free world with no more nuclear victims like me."
View Full Testimony by Tae-jae Lee
Tae-jae Lee, a second-generation atomic bomb victim and the president of the Korean Atomic Bomb Victims Descendants Association, testified about the physical and social suffering endured by many descendants of atomic bomb victims, who not only suffer from physical pain but also from social stigma, hiding their bomb exposure. He said, "The victims continue to suffer and die in pain to this day, yet the perpetrators have not even offered a single word of apology or compensation. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing. The U.S., which is responsible for the 1945 atomic bombing, must apologize to the victims and provide compensation. Furthermore, the U.S. must join the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) to prevent the use of nuclear weapons in the future."
Following the testimonies, several international partner organizations involved in the People's Tribunal shared their thoughts.
Activists from partner organizations present panel discussions.
John Reuwer of World Beyond War said, "In a time when governments are squandering their legitimacy by ignoring the rule of law, this Tribunal asserts that ordinary people can stand by the rule of law and call leaders to uphold it. International law can help denuclearize and demilitarize the Korean Peninsula and eventually the world."
Ann Wright of Veterans for Peace reaffirmed her support for the People's Tribunal, emphasizing that Americans must actively assist Korean atomic bomb victims where the U.S. government has failed.
Colleen Moore of the UMC General Board of Church and Society proposed using the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing as a catalyst for passing a congressional resolution recognizing the Korean atomic bomb victims in the U.S.
Sean William Conner of the IPB (International Peace Bureau) stated, "The IPB and our international network of organizations are proud to support the IPT. We hope that its message is listened to in Washington, and in cities and states around the world; that governments and citizens alike come with open ears and minds, listen to the messages of the Korean Hibakusha, and commit themselves to abolishing nuclear weapons."
Activists from partner organizations present panel discussions.
Yayoi Tsuchida of Gensuikyo (Japan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs) expressed that Japan must also play a role in ensuring Korean atomic bomb victims receive the support they deserve and announced plans for promotional activities in Japan.
Mari Inoue from the Manhattan Project for a Nuclear-Free World proposed that Korean atomic bomb victims testify at the upcoming World Nuclear Victims Forum in Hiroshima in October and pledged to continue supporting efforts to secure official U.S. apologies and compensation for Korean victims.
Margaret Engel of Peace Action New York State reflected on how she had learned during her school years that the atomic bombings were considered a necessary evil to prevent greater loss of life, and emphasized the importance of educating students. She highlighted the People's Tribunal as a critical opportunity to share awareness about the U.S.'s role in nuclear policy and history.
Miho Tanaka of Kakuwaka Hiroshima expressed that the 2026 People's Tribunal will provide a platform to expose Japan’s colonial responsibility and America’s nuclear colonialism, further strengthening the moral foundation for true nuclear abolition. She also expressed her intention to join the International Organizing Committee of the People's Tribunal.
Hye-ran Oh, Executive Director of SPARK, was scheduled to introduce specific plans for preparing the Tribunal’s proceedings, including the upcoming 3rd Online International Forum, but was unable to do so due to time constraints.
The event, which lasted nearly two hours, was conducted with great focus from the participants, especially with regard to the victim testimonies.