Inter-Korean Dialogue

Inter-Korean relations are shaped by the ongoing division of the Korean Peninsula, conflicts between North and South Korea as well as diverging interests between regional and global powers such as the US and China. The Korean War (1950-1953) has still not officially come to an end. Instead of a peace treaty, only an armistice agreement was signed in 1953. In the 1990s, North Korea started to develop its own nuclear weapons which has led to international sanctions. Despite various attempts, negotiations on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and building a peace regime have so far not been successful.

Despite all these complexities and difficulties, it is clear that peace on the Korean Peninsula can only be established with non-violent measures. FES Korea believes that long-lasting security challenges can only be solved through dialogue and trust-building and with sincere engagement from all concerned parties. Therefore, FES Korea promotes dialogue and cooperation in various ways. For instance, FES supports South Korean academics and civil society organizations in developing reconciliation and engagement policies. Furthermore, FES organizes workshops and dialogue forums with representatives of North Korean institutions on current economic and social issues. As a German non-profit organization, FES also shares experiences with the division and reunification of Germany.