War drums are beating louder in Asia. North Korea launched another ballistic missile on November 29. In response, the Japanese government requested an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council and South Korea conducted a "precision-strike" drill, firing three missiles into the sea off the east coast that was designed to emulate a strike on the North's launch site.
North Korea is responding to US President Donald Trump's threats. Trump told the UN in September he would “totally destroy North Korea if it threatened US sovereignty”. The US is the only nation to have used nuclear weapons against another country.
In Sydney, a Korean solidarity group, the Sydney Candlelight Alliance, is organising an action against nuclear threats and build up in North Korea and Trump's escalation. The Sydney Candlelight Alliance took over Strathfield's mall in 2016 and 2017 with colourful, candlelight protests to show their solidarity with the South Korean democracy movement.
The Sydney Candlelight Alliance is concerned at the military build up and will hold a No War in Korea Peace Rally in Martin Place on December 8.
Spokesperson Sean Kim said: “The rally is demanding a de-escalation of the threats of war in the Korean Peninsula; that the US and North Korea sign a peace treaty; and that the UN Nuclear Weapon Ban Treaty is signed and ratified.”
The Peace Rally is supported by Sydney University Postgraduate Representative Association, Independent and Peaceful Australia Network, Sydney Stop the War Coalition, Friends of "Comfort Women" in Sydney, Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union, Solidarity Choir, Green Left Weekly, Latin America Social Forum, Pax Christi, Australian Anti-Bases Campaign Coalition and Maritime Union of Australia.
Look for the rally details on Facebook.
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