Baltimore Yearly Meeting (“BYM”) of the Religious Society of Friends (“Quakers”) urges U.S. leaders to resist any temptation to a military strike against North Korea.

Background

In recent days, U.S. Senator Lindsay Graham stated to national media (NBC’s Today Show), “There is a military option to destroy North Korea’s (missile) program and North Korea itself. …If there’s going to be a war to stop them, it will be over there. If thousands die, they’re going to die over there, they’re not going to die here and (President Donald Trump) told me that to my face.”

Vice President has stated that “all options are on the table.” U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley is reported by CNN to have announced, “The time for talk is over.”

Nonetheless, there is a broad international consensus that economic pressure has had a major impact on North Korea and should be continued; its primary remaining trading partner, China, recently agreed to increase its economic actions.

Minute

Baltimore Yearly Meeting (“BYM”) of the Religious Society of Friends (“Quakers”) urges U.S. leaders to resist any temptation to a military strike against North Korea.

The use of military force on the Korean peninsula would cause massive loss of life and other horrific consequences to Koreans and other nations’ people including our own. Over 100,000 Americans reside in South Korea, including thousands of civilians. Such a war, especially nuclear war, also would do terrible, long-term damage to the world’s ecosystem. As with the war in Iraq, an attack on North Korea would have unintended consequences.

Only continued patience, diplomacy and nonmilitary interactions hold the promise for true peace-building and a better future for the Korean peninsula. Our nation must reject the false promises of war and threats of war.

The BYM region of Quakers include more than 52 worshipping communities in four states (Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania and West Virginia) and the District of Columbia with attendance of more than 7,000. Quakers have supported peaceful resolution of conflicts for more than 350 years, receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, participating in establishment of the United Nations and other practical, ongoing conflict resolution organizations. Consistent with Friends’ historic Peace Testimony, we “utterly deny all outward wars and strife and fightings with outward weapons, for any end or under any pretence whatsoever.”

Approved by Baltimore Yearly Meeting (Quakers) of the Religious Society of Friends, during Annual Sessions at Frederick, Maryland on 8/6/17