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All-female delegation arrives in Pyongyang for peace march across DMZ

Xinhua, May 19, 2015 Adjust font size:

Thirty-nine women activists from around the world arrived in Pyongyang Tuesday to prepare for a peace march across the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), the first time ever an all-female delegation has come together here for an event of this kind.

Seoul said earlier it will provide necessary help and assistance if Pyongyang approves the event, which is scheduled for Saturday.

Among the activists were two Nobel Peace Prize laureates, Leymah Gbowee from Liberia and Mairead Maguire from Northern Ireland, who is also honorary co-chair of the organizing committee for the upcoming event, designed to call attention to building a reunified Korea.

Before they visit Kaesong and Panmunjon and walk across the 4-km wide demilitarized zone on Saturday, they plan to hold symposiums in Pyongyang and share their thoughts and experiences with DPRK women regarding putting an end to violence and war.

Christine Ahn, a Korean American and co-coordinator of the organizing committee, told Xinhua that they basically have three goals: first, to draw global attention to the urgent need to end the Korean war and replace the armistice agreement with a peace treaty; second, to reunite families separated by the Korean War; third, to encourage women to participate in the peace-building process at various levels.

"The good news is that we have received approval from both governments," Ahn said.

She admitted the event was a bold move, but hoped it could inspire others. Ahn also said she believed that the women, through these simple actions, are able to positively influence the inter-Korean dialogue.

"Every long journey starts with one small step, and we hope this will be that step," Swedish participant Ewa Eriksson Fortier replied when asked how much this event could influence the currently tense north-south ties.

Netsai Mushonga, a women's rights activist from Zimbabwe, said that there is a large sum of money going into militarization and that the two Koreas remain divided because of fears and confrontation. She believed that the money could be put to better use, for example, by investing it in the development of the two countries. Endi