Forum
Korea Global Forum for Peace 2021

The Korea Global Forum for Peace (KGFP) is a multilateral forum organized annually since 2010 by the Ministry of Reunification (MOU) of the Republic of Korea to discuss peace and reunification of the Korean Peninsula with scientists and government representatives from over twenty countries. The year 2021 is particularly symbolic as it marks the 30th anniversary of the Inter-Korean Basic Agreement and the admission of South and North Korea to the UN. In this context, this year's forum aims to renew the meaning and purpose of the Basic Agreement and to discuss visions and ways towards new inter-Korean relations.

Therefore, the HSF organized a presentation for Dr. Thomas Schäfer, former German ambassador in Pyongyang (Ret.), on 31 August on the topic "Diplomacy and Water - about the Difficulties in helping North Korea" within Session 3-4 "Inter-Korean Cooperation beyond Climate Change and Water Disasters in the Korean Peninsula". Dr. Schäfer reported on his experiences in dealing with North Korean leaders, the difficulty of implementing humanitarian aid programs and the ambiguities in the North Korean government's vision of goals.

Besides Dr. Thomas Schäfer, Mr. Kim Kyoung Hun (Korea Water Resources Corporation(K-Water), General Manager) and Mr. Lee Chang-Hee (Myongji University, Professor) also presented deep insights into past, present and future issues of sustainable inter-Korean cooperation. The session concluded with a short panel discussion in which Felix Glenk, DPR Korea Project Manager of HSS Korea, among others, provided assessments based on his experiences in North Korea.