Hyun Kyung-dae, Executive Vice-chairperson, returned home last Aug. 21 from North America after visiting 6 areas. He attended the inaugural sessions to launch the 16th municipal chapters in Toronto (Aug. 7), Chicago (Aug. 10), Boston (Aug. 12), New York City (Aug. 14), Philadelphia (Aug. 16), and Washington D.C. (Aug. 19) and presented the Letter of Designation to the chairpersons in the areas on behalf of the President as the Chairperson.

He emphasized the importance of the roles of the 16th Council members as President Park has made "Building the Foundation of Peaceful Unification" as one of the basic policies of the government for the first time in Korea and requested the members to promote the historical significance of unification of the Korean Peninsula to the local societies where they live and to the Korean communities.

He also held 5 meetings by inviting the Korean ambassador/consul general, 6 meetings with the leaders of Korean communities, 6 meetings with the executive members of the municipal chapters, and 2 press conferences during his 15-day visit in the North America region and attended the Independence Day Ceremony to explain the background and significance of the Park administration's policy of "Korean Peninsula Trust-Building Process."

Hyun, Executive Vice-chairperson of the Council, reminded the attendants that several agreements have been executed between South and North since 1970, but they all came to nothing because North Korea destroyed them unilaterally. Therefore, he said, it is essential to build mutual trust in the course of upholding and observing the agreements made so far instead of making new ones. Both the USA and China shared the same understanding of prohibiting the North from possessing nuclear weapons during the Korea-USA and Korea-China summit talks.
The two superpowers supported the "Korean Peninsula Trust-Building Process." Hyun asked the attendants to let the Americans know that a unified Korea free from nuclear weapons will also be beneficial to America.

Meanwhile, Hyun paid visits to the Monument of Korean War Veterans in Toronto, Canada, New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C., together with the members in memory of the 60th anniversary of the armistice of Korean War to lay flowers on the monuments.

Seo Jeong-il, Chairperson of the Chicago Korean Community (right of Hyun, Executive Vice-chairperson), and Jin An-soon, Head of the Chicago Municipal Chapter (left of Hyun)

Hyun, Executive Vice-chairperson of the Council, visited the Chicago Municipal Chapter together with Kim Ki-cheol, Vice-chairperson of the US Municipal Chapter, and Kim Yeong-man and Lim Kwan-heon, executive members.

Hyun, Executive Vice-chairperson of the Council, paid a visit to the market place set up during the Korean Festival in Chicago to donate goods and encourage the persons working for the event.

Hyun invited the leaders of the Korean community in Boston including Han Seon-woo, Chairperson of the Korean Society in Boston, to listen to their opinion on national unification.

The inaugural session to launch the Boston Municipal Chapter was held at the new hall of Harvard Law School.

Son Se-joo, Consul General to New York City, Kim Ki-cheol, Vice-chairperson of the Council of North America, and Jeong Jae-kyun, Head of the New York Municipal Chapter, attended the press conference with Hyun.

A total of 15 veterans including Min Kyung-won, Head of the Veterans Association of Northeast Region of America, attended the flower-laying ceremony with Hyun, Executive Vice-chairperson of the Council. Hyun reiterated that Korea should be unified as soon as possible for the sake of comforting the souls of the American soldiers killed during the Korean War to protect democracy.

Son Se-joo, Consul General, invited Kwon Yeong-hyun, Chairperson of the Korean Businessmen Association of New York, Lee Cheol-woo, Chairperson of the Korea-US Public Policy Committee, and 20 other leaders of the Korean community in the city to have a meeting with Hyun Kyung-dae, Executive Vice-chairperson of the Council, during his visit to New York City.

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  Inaugural Session to launch NY Committee, Aug. 14

The inaugural session to launch the New York Municipal Chapter was successfully held with all the members' attendance.

US Congressmen Charles B. Rangel and Grace Meng gave their congratulatory speeches and handed over their letters of congratulations to Kim Ki-cheol, Vice-chairperson of the US Municipal Chapter, and Jeong Jae-kyun, Head of the New York Municipal Chapter.

Hyun, Executive Vice-chairperson of the Council, laid flowers on the Monument of Korean War Veterans with the members of the Philadelphia Municipal Chapter.

Kim Ki-cheol, Vice-chairperson of US Municipal Chapter, emphasizes the responsibilities, roles, solidarity, and harmony of the members of the municipal chapters in his opening speech. He attended 10 other conferences held in LA and Chicago to launch the 16th municipal chapters in the areas.

Hyun, Executive Vice-chairperson of the Council, sings "Our Wish is Unification" together with Son Se-joo, consul general to NY, and Jang Kwon-il, Head of the Philadelphia Municipal Chapter.

Hyun, Executive Vice-chairperson of the Council, invited Han Linda, Chairperson of the Washington D.C. Association of Koreans, Choi Kwang-hee, Vice-chairperson of the General Association of Koreans in the USA, and others to dinner to listen to their opinions on national unification.

A total of 15 Korean reporters in Washington D.C. attend including Park Seung-hee (Joongang Daily), Lee Gang-deok (KBS), and Shin Seok-ho (Donga Daily).

Hyun visits the park with Ambassador Ahn Ho-yeong to the USA and Lee Byung-hee, Chairperson of the Korea Veterans Association in the USA.

Hyun pays a visit to US Federal Congressman Frank R. Wolf to discuss human rights in North Korea as well as the relations between the two Koreas. Frank Wolf, a Republican and a 17-time lawmaker, has been showing keen interest in human rights in North Korea, defectors, and US soldiers missing in action during the Korean War.