- Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Freedom is the signature spirit of the United States and of South Korea. We should be humble, never forgetting that our brothers and sisters in North Korea are starving, in pain, and have no human rights. We must redouble our efforts to bring about a reunion among the tens of thousands of families separated between North and South Korea. We must do this before more of those separated by the war pass away.

The wall separating East and West Berlin has been torn down for decades. Now it is time for the barbed wire fences that have separated South and North Korea for 70 years to be pulled down. Unification must be given the highest priority. A new global movement needs to arise, especially engaging our American brothers and sisters.

Unification is a global issue. Unification of the Korean peninsula will transform South Korea from a country that has been receiving aid, to a country positioned to give aid to the world. Korean Americans cherish the alliance that exists between the United States and Korea. It is our promise that we will remain committed to support the common prosperity and unification of the Korean peninsula.

It is our fervent desire that the leadership of the Republic of Korea and the United States will continue to strengthen their alliance and the global partnership between their two countries.

The current objectives of the National Unification Advisory Council (NUAC) are to build the foundation for the peaceful unification of the Korean Peninsula based on free democratic order, and to establish a unified nation where 80 million Korean people can achieve happiness and prosperity based on peaceful unification and true liberty.

NUAC seeks to 1) encourage policies for unification that will gain broad support, 2) promote preparation for the national unification of Korea on a full scale, 3) engage young professionals who will undertake key leadership roles in the era of national unification to be talented people for unification, and 4) realize an integrated and shared image of NUAC.

It is our fervent desire and prayer that the presidents of the Republic of Korea and the United States will strengthen their alliance and the global partnership between our two beloved countries. The bond between Korea and America was born in blood in the Korean War; it has blossomed into a powerful alliance for the good of all people.

• Mr. Hwang is president of the Western Chapter of the National Unification Advisory Council (NUAC), a presidential consultative body on the reunification for the Korean Peninsula.

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