The Elders believe conflicts cannot be resolved without dialogue. Peace on the Korean Peninsula is possible, but requires all parties to commit to talk to each other on all outstanding issues.

The Elders call on the international community to help address urgent humanitarian needs in North Korea including on food and health issues, stressing that it should not be linked to political and security considerations. Regarding food aid, donors should be reassured by the government’s commitment to improve transparency and monitoring of food distribution, and North Korea must fulfil this obligation. Above all, food is a basic human right – international donors cannot ignore a population facing hunger and starvation because they disagree with its government.

The Elders emphasise that the North Korean government has a fundamental responsibility to provide for its own people, if necessary through appropriate policy reforms.

The Elders launched their Korean Peninsula initiative in April 2011, when a delegation led by Jimmy Carter visited China and North and South Korea to help ease tensions and address humanitarian and security challenges. Read the trip report here.

As independent Elders, they do not represent any government or seek to intervene in official processes such as the Six-Party Talks. Instead they hope to promote an atmosphere conducive to dialogue and persuade international donors to address food and health needs in North Korea.

The Elders also seek to build a dialogue with the North Korean government on its responsibilities to improve humanitarian conditions in the country.

Martti Ahtisaari, Gro Harlem Brundtland, Mary Robinson and Jimmy Carter standing in front of a bronze statue of the late North Korean leader Kim Il Sung, in North Korea, April 2011

April 2011

Jimmy Carter led a delegation to North Korea, South Korea and China, accompanied by his fellow Elders Martti Ahtisaari, Gro Harlem Brundtland and Mary Robinson, to encourage dialogue and address security and humanitarian concerns. In all three countries they met senior government officials, diplomats, UN representatives, humanitarian agencies, researchers and think tanks. They were also able to meet people affected by the situation in North Korea, including refugees who had fled to South Korea.

Martti Ahtisaari and Gro Harlem Brundtland later travelled to Brussels to brief senior European Union officials on their findings. The group continues to engage in private advocacy and diplomacy on the key issues, particularly food aid to North Korea, and monitor developments closely in the region.