Citizen Groups Condemn Vegan Visit to Korea... Call for "Dissolution of the Hanmi Working Group"

On the 8th, Steven Biegun, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State and Special Representative for North Korea, visited South Korea. In front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jongno-gu, Seoul, members of People Opening Peace and Unification and civic groups held a press conference urging the implementation of the Singapore Summit agreement. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] Amid Steven Biegun, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, visiting South Korea, civic groups have condemned his visit and called for the dissolution of the South Korea-U.S. Working Group.

The 'August 15 National Autonomy Rally Promotion Committee' (hereafter Promotion Committee), formed by 176 organizations including the June 15 Joint Declaration Implementation South Side Committee, Koreahana, the Association for the Support of Conscientious Prisoners, and the Peaceful Unification Citizens' Coalition, held a press conference on the morning of the 8th in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Jongno-gu, Seoul. They stated, "The South Korea-U.S. Working Group excuses itself as merely a practical consultative body, but it has ridden on top of inter-Korean relations to interfere and obstruct," and insisted, "The solution must start with the dissolution of the South Korea-U.S. Working Group, which has become a watchdog of internal affairs interference."

The Promotion Committee expressed, "We cannot help but have serious concerns about Biegun's visit, which took place during a grave situation where inter-Korean relations are collapsing," and condemned, "Biegun's visit is at the center of the U.S.'s all-out pressure on North Korea and South Korea."

The civic group 'People Opening Peace and Unification' (Pyeongtongsa) also held a press conference that day, urging the U.S. to abandon its hostile policy toward North Korea and the government to implement the Panmunjom Declaration.

At the time Biegun entered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pyeongtongsa shouted slogans such as "No Sanction" and "Peace Treaty Now."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.