Tokyo, Japan—The sixth session of July International Leadership Conference 2021 (ILC2021) organized by UPF-Japan was a special event commemorating the 17th anniversary of the establishment of the Federation for Peace and Unification (FPU), an organization dedicated to the reconciliation of Korean residents in Japan, and the 30th anniversary of UPF founders Rev. Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon’s visit to North Korea in December 1991. The program, which was held in-person and virtually on July 24, was attended by around 1,000 participants.
The conference opened with a film about Rev. and Mrs. Moon’s visit to North Korea, cultural exchanges that took place between North and South Korea thereafter, and activities that led to the establishment of FPU.
Following the emcee’s welcoming remarks, Mr. Young-hak Kim, president of FPU, gave the congratulatory remarks. In her remarks, Mrs. Yeon Ah Moon, chairwoman of UPF-Korea, who participated via video call from South Korea, praised and gave words of encouragement to those involved in FPU’s activities, saying: “We are confident that the unification of Korean communities in Japan will lay the foundation for peace on the Korean Peninsula and achieve our long-cherished goal of unification.”
Mr. Hyung-suk Kim, former vice minister of the Ministry of Unification of South Korea, spoke about the Peace Road, an initiative on which the FPU has collaborated with UPF to support the unification of the two Koreas. Mr. Kim, who himself participated in a Peace Road event in 2018 held at Imjingak pavilion, a tourist site overlooking the military demarcation line between North and South Korea, stated: “I hope the day will come in the near future when cyclists wishing for peace are able to cross the 38th parallel and reach North Korea, China and even Russia.”
Mr. Masayoshi Kajikuri, chairman of UPF-Japan, stressed that the South Korean presidential election, which is scheduled to take place next year, will have a major impact on the Korean Peninsula, and explained that UPF chapters worldwide are currently holding ILCs on issues related to the peninsula. He said that experts and academics from around the world are placing their focus on the peninsula through UPF’s network. He emphasized that through all of this, FPU plays the most central role in the peaceful unification of the two Koreas and that a higher level of cooperation between UPF and FPU will be needed in the future.
Then, Mr. Sang-il Bang, a senior advisor to FPU, gave a commemorative speech in which he detailed the history of FPU’s founding and Rev. and Mrs. Moon’s vision of the mission of Korean residents in Japan. After speaking about the meeting where Rev. Moon walked hand in hand with Kim Il Sung, he said that FPU is an organization that not only preaches but walks Rev. Moon’s message of “loving your enemy.”
The event concluded with the presentation of letters of appreciation and awards to individuals who have made long-time contributions to North-South Korea reconciliation and Japan-Korea friendship. A seven-point resolution was subsequently read and unanimously adopted.