Friday, August 16, 2024
5:00 - 6:30 pm ET
Korean Atomic Bomb Victims Seek Justice
— And The Outlaw of Nuclear Weapons— through People’s Tribunal
Moderator: Brad Wolf
Presenters: Elliot Adams, Joseph Essertier, Kapsong Kim, Gil Kim, Juyeon JC Rhee, Margaret Engel
Participants of the People's Tribunal Workshop at the 2024 VFP Online Convention.
The "2024 Online Convention," organized by the Veterans for Peace (VFP), took place from August 16 to 18. One of the main events of the convention was a workshop titled "KOREAN ATOMIC BOMB VICTIMS SEEK JUSTICE - AND THE OUTLAW OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS - THROUGH PEOPLE'S TRIBUNAL," presented by the People's Tribunal Organizing Committee, which was formed during the 2nd International forum in Hiroshima, Japan, on June 8, 2024. VFP is a partner organization of the People's Tribunal Organizing Committee.
The workshop, attended by approximately 80 participants, was opened by Brad Wolf, the workshop moderator and co-coordinator of the organizing committee. He provided an overview of the People's Tribunal, its background, objectives, and the progress made so far.
Brad Wolf, the workshop moderator and co-coordinator of the organizing committee.
Brad Wolf emphasized that the People's Tribunal focuses on the Korean atomic bomb victims, who were forcibly mobilized by Japan and later suffered from the U.S. atomic bombings. He outlined the tribunal's goals: (1) to assess the legality of the 1945 U.S. atomic bombings and demand an apology for the Korean victims, (2) to establish the illegality of nuclear weapon use and threats in the present day, and (3) to resolve the nuclear confrontation on the Korean Peninsula. He also shared recent developments in the tribunal's framework, led by the legal review team.
He underscored the importance of the tribunal, stating that it addresses not only the past but also the present and future. He called for the continued interest and participation of workshop attendees.
Elliott Adams, longtime VFP member and organizing committee member.
Following Brad Wolf's presentation, Elliott Adams, a longtime member of VFP and a member of the organizing committee, spoke. Elliott Adams reflected on his time serving in the U.S. military in Korea, admitting that he was unaware of the existence of Korean atomic bomb victims. He remarked, "Now, over seventy years later, that prima facie crime has not been punished, and no apology has been forthcoming. We are in a world today that is on a path to commit the same crime again, only this time orders of magnitude worst."
Elliott Adams highlighted the significance of the People's Tribunal, suggesting that if the tribunal proves the illegality of the 1945 atomic bombings, it could set a precedent for declaring future nuclear weapon use as illegal.
Brad Wolf (left) and Joseph Essertier (right), organizing committee member and Japan chapter coordinator of World Beyond War.
Next, Joseph Essertier, a member of the organizing committee and the coordinator of the Japan chapter of World Beyond War, provided an overview of the history of the Korean Peninsula and its current status as a focal point of nuclear confrontation. He argued that the efforts of Korean atomic bomb victims could raise awareness about the realities of nuclear weapons among the people of Korea, Northeast Asia, and even the United States, contributing to the global movement for nuclear abolition.
Joseph Essertier (left) and Brad Wolf (right) with Kapsong Kim (below), organizing committee member and National Coordinator for the Korean American Peace Fund.
Kapsong Kim, a member of the People's Tribunal Organizing Committee and the National Coordinator for the Korean American Peace fund, also spoke. He emphasized the crucial role of the Korean American community in Korea's peace, anti-war, and denuclearization movements, committing to efforts to involve more people in the People's Tribunal project. He expressed his hope that the project would help establish a framework for ongoing solidarity between Korea, the Korean American community, and the U.S. peace movement, paving the way toward a nuclear-free world.
Kapsong Kim (left), Brad Wolf (center), and SPARK youth member Gil Kim (right).
Following this, SPARK youth member Gil Kim shared her experience of joining the People's Tribunal project. Born and raised in the United States, she recalled being taught in school that the atomic bombings were an inevitable choice to end World War II and prevent further deaths, with no mention of Korean atomic bomb victims.
However, after moving to Korea late last year and learning about Korean atomic bomb victims through SPARK, she realized the importance of amplifying their voices and holding the U.S. accountable. She also mentioned her pride in serving as an interpreter during the 2nd International forum and the Korean atomic bomb victims' memorial ceremony in Hiroshima in June.
Gil Kim expressed her determination to continue sharing the Korean perspective on anti-nuclear struggles after returning to the U.S. and to contribute to the People's Tribunal by offering translation and interpretation services in preparation for its 2026 convening.
Juyeon Rhee, board member of the Korea Policy Institute (KPI), delivering a presentation.
Next, Juyeon Rhee, a board member of the Korea Policy Institute (KPI), discussed the connection between the 1945 atomic bombings and the current nuclear crisis on the Korean Peninsula, as well as the contemporary relevance of the People's Tribunal.
She explained how the 1945 U.S. atomic bombings are closely linked to the division of the Korean Peninsula, the Korean War, and the ongoing nuclear confrontation. She highlighted how U.S. nuclear policies, including the formation of the U.S.-ROK alliance (1954), the deployment of U.S. tactical nuclear weapons (1957), the U.S. nuclear umbrella (1978), and extended deterrence (2006), have exacerbated the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula.
Juyeon Rhee warned that "the Korean Peninsula is at risk of becoming a second Hiroshima," arguing that both the U.S. preemptive strike strategy and North Korea's deterrence policy must be abandoned to ensure mutual security. She concluded by emphasizing the need to dismantle the nuclear alliance and extended deterrence policy through a peace treaty on the Korean Peninsula.
She also highlighted that if the People's Tribunal can establish that the 1945 atomic bombings were illegal and strengthen the prohibition on the use and threat of nuclear weapons in the present day, it would greatly contribute to peace and denuclearization not only on the Korean Peninsula but also globally.
Top row, from left to right: Margaret Engel, Brad Wolf, Elliott Adams. Bottom row, from left to right: Joseph Essertier, Juyeon Rhee, Gil Kim, Kapsong Kim.
Finally, Margaret Engel, a member of the People's Tribunal Organizing Committee and representative from Peace Action New York State, spoke. Peace Action is also a partner organization of the People's Tribunal.
Margaret Engel stressed the importance of educating Americans, particularly students, about the truth of Korean atomic bomb victims to ensure the success of the People's Tribunal. She mentioned that the organizing committee had discussed specific methods, such as providing survivor testimonies and creating promotional materials. She also expressed her commitment to continuously supporting the tribunal to prevent the tragedies of Hiroshima and Nagasaki from ever happening again.
After all presentations, a Q&A session related to the People's Tribunal took place, reflecting the strong interest of the workshop participants.
One participant remarked, "Listening to the presentations by the organizing committee members, I could feel the firm resolve each of them has for the People's Tribunal project."
Friday, August 16, 2024
5:00 - 6:30 pm ET
Korean Atomic Bomb Victims Seek Justice
— And The Outlaw of Nuclear Weapons— through People’s Tribunal
Moderator: Brad Wolf
Presenters: Elliot Adams, Joseph Essertier, Kapsong Kim, Gil Kim, Juyeon JC Rhee, Margaret Engel
Participants of the People's Tribunal Workshop at the 2024 VFP Online Convention.
The "2024 Online Convention," organized by the Veterans for Peace (VFP), took place from August 16 to 18. One of the main events of the convention was a workshop titled "KOREAN ATOMIC BOMB VICTIMS SEEK JUSTICE - AND THE OUTLAW OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS - THROUGH PEOPLE'S TRIBUNAL," presented by the People's Tribunal Organizing Committee, which was formed during the 2nd International forum in Hiroshima, Japan, on June 8, 2024. VFP is a partner organization of the People's Tribunal Organizing Committee.
The workshop, attended by approximately 80 participants, was opened by Brad Wolf, the workshop moderator and co-coordinator of the organizing committee. He provided an overview of the People's Tribunal, its background, objectives, and the progress made so far.
Brad Wolf, the workshop moderator and co-coordinator of the organizing committee.
Brad Wolf emphasized that the People's Tribunal focuses on the Korean atomic bomb victims, who were forcibly mobilized by Japan and later suffered from the U.S. atomic bombings. He outlined the tribunal's goals: (1) to assess the legality of the 1945 U.S. atomic bombings and demand an apology for the Korean victims, (2) to establish the illegality of nuclear weapon use and threats in the present day, and (3) to resolve the nuclear confrontation on the Korean Peninsula. He also shared recent developments in the tribunal's framework, led by the legal review team.
He underscored the importance of the tribunal, stating that it addresses not only the past but also the present and future. He called for the continued interest and participation of workshop attendees.
Elliott Adams, longtime VFP member and organizing committee member.
Following Brad Wolf's presentation, Elliott Adams, a longtime member of VFP and a member of the organizing committee, spoke. Elliott Adams reflected on his time serving in the U.S. military in Korea, admitting that he was unaware of the existence of Korean atomic bomb victims. He remarked, "Now, over seventy years later, that prima facie crime has not been punished, and no apology has been forthcoming. We are in a world today that is on a path to commit the same crime again, only this time orders of magnitude worst."
Elliott Adams highlighted the significance of the People's Tribunal, suggesting that if the tribunal proves the illegality of the 1945 atomic bombings, it could set a precedent for declaring future nuclear weapon use as illegal.
Brad Wolf (left) and Joseph Essertier (right), organizing committee member and Japan chapter coordinator of World Beyond War.
Next, Joseph Essertier, a member of the organizing committee and the coordinator of the Japan chapter of World Beyond War, provided an overview of the history of the Korean Peninsula and its current status as a focal point of nuclear confrontation. He argued that the efforts of Korean atomic bomb victims could raise awareness about the realities of nuclear weapons among the people of Korea, Northeast Asia, and even the United States, contributing to the global movement for nuclear abolition.
Joseph Essertier (left) and Brad Wolf (right) with Kapsong Kim (below), organizing committee member and National Coordinator for the Korean American Peace Fund.
Kapsong Kim, a member of the People's Tribunal Organizing Committee and the National Coordinator for the Korean American Peace fund, also spoke. He emphasized the crucial role of the Korean American community in Korea's peace, anti-war, and denuclearization movements, committing to efforts to involve more people in the People's Tribunal project. He expressed his hope that the project would help establish a framework for ongoing solidarity between Korea, the Korean American community, and the U.S. peace movement, paving the way toward a nuclear-free world.
Kapsong Kim (left), Brad Wolf (center), and SPARK youth member Gil Kim (right).
Following this, SPARK youth member Gil Kim shared her experience of joining the People's Tribunal project. Born and raised in the United States, she recalled being taught in school that the atomic bombings were an inevitable choice to end World War II and prevent further deaths, with no mention of Korean atomic bomb victims.
However, after moving to Korea late last year and learning about Korean atomic bomb victims through SPARK, she realized the importance of amplifying their voices and holding the U.S. accountable. She also mentioned her pride in serving as an interpreter during the 2nd International forum and the Korean atomic bomb victims' memorial ceremony in Hiroshima in June.
Gil Kim expressed her determination to continue sharing the Korean perspective on anti-nuclear struggles after returning to the U.S. and to contribute to the People's Tribunal by offering translation and interpretation services in preparation for its 2026 convening.
Juyeon Rhee, board member of the Korea Policy Institute (KPI), delivering a presentation.
Next, Juyeon Rhee, a board member of the Korea Policy Institute (KPI), discussed the connection between the 1945 atomic bombings and the current nuclear crisis on the Korean Peninsula, as well as the contemporary relevance of the People's Tribunal.
She explained how the 1945 U.S. atomic bombings are closely linked to the division of the Korean Peninsula, the Korean War, and the ongoing nuclear confrontation. She highlighted how U.S. nuclear policies, including the formation of the U.S.-ROK alliance (1954), the deployment of U.S. tactical nuclear weapons (1957), the U.S. nuclear umbrella (1978), and extended deterrence (2006), have exacerbated the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula.
Juyeon Rhee warned that "the Korean Peninsula is at risk of becoming a second Hiroshima," arguing that both the U.S. preemptive strike strategy and North Korea's deterrence policy must be abandoned to ensure mutual security. She concluded by emphasizing the need to dismantle the nuclear alliance and extended deterrence policy through a peace treaty on the Korean Peninsula.
She also highlighted that if the People's Tribunal can establish that the 1945 atomic bombings were illegal and strengthen the prohibition on the use and threat of nuclear weapons in the present day, it would greatly contribute to peace and denuclearization not only on the Korean Peninsula but also globally.
Top row, from left to right: Margaret Engel, Brad Wolf, Elliott Adams. Bottom row, from left to right: Joseph Essertier, Juyeon Rhee, Gil Kim, Kapsong Kim.
Finally, Margaret Engel, a member of the People's Tribunal Organizing Committee and representative from Peace Action New York State, spoke. Peace Action is also a partner organization of the People's Tribunal.
Margaret Engel stressed the importance of educating Americans, particularly students, about the truth of Korean atomic bomb victims to ensure the success of the People's Tribunal. She mentioned that the organizing committee had discussed specific methods, such as providing survivor testimonies and creating promotional materials. She also expressed her commitment to continuously supporting the tribunal to prevent the tragedies of Hiroshima and Nagasaki from ever happening again.
After all presentations, a Q&A session related to the People's Tribunal took place, reflecting the strong interest of the workshop participants.
One participant remarked, "Listening to the presentations by the organizing committee members, I could feel the firm resolve each of them has for the People's Tribunal project."