The event is intended to press for a peace treaty to end the Korean War of 1950 to 53 which ended in an armistice rather than a formal peace treaty, so that technically the two states are still at war.The conflict left an estimated four million people dead, including nearly 34,000 American soldiers. Millions of families are still separated.
The organizers still need to receive written letters of confirmation and visas for travel through the two countries. However, participants have already bought plane tickets too Pyongyang where the march will begin, and North Korea has already given the group a tentative itinerary.
Suzy Kim, a professor of Korean history at Rutgers university and one of the organizers, said: “At this point we consider having obtained the approval of both governments, it just takes some paperwork to proceed.” The organizers of the march include feminist author Gloria Steinem. Cora Weiss an American antiwar activist said: “We’re calling for an end to the world’s longest war, which has not ended, and for women to be involved in all aspects of the peace process.”
Some critics condemn the march organizers for refusing to bring up the issue of human rights in North Korea. Professor Kim countered that to try to create long-term peace-building measures it was counter-productive to begin by attacking one side.
The South Korean Unification Ministry said it might not allow the 40 members of the WomenCrossDMZ group to cross at the truce village of Panmunjon as the group plans. It wants the march to go through Gyeongui road a passage recognized by both the North and South. An official of the Ministry said: “Because Panmunjom is a region that manages the armistice system, it is not a suitable route, It is more appropriate to use the Gyeongui Line land route because there is already an agreement between North and South Korea on the procedure to use it.” The march is scheduled for May 24, which is International Women’s Day for Peace and Disarmament.
