Scientific Cooperation Toward Peace in Northeast Asia

As the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) convenes at the Vienna International Centre from November 10-12, 2025, the Universal Peace Federation emphasizes the role of scientific cooperation and the CTBTO's verification regime in ensuring peace and security in Northeast Asia.

The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) has not yet entered into force as international law, as it requires ratification by 44 specific nuclear technology holder countries. Nevertheless, the CTBTO’s verification system operates efficiently, using four technologies –  seismic, hydroacoustic, infrasound, and radionuclide monitoring – with around 90 percent of its 337 designated monitoring facilities operational. In the context of the Korean Peninsula, such mechanisms can foster mutual confidence. 

UPF has observed the International Day Against Nuclear Tests with the statement “Human Security through Cooperation,” underscoring that human security is strengthened through trust and partnership in development. These principles guide UPF’s efforts to promote disarmament through cooperation and transparency, complementing the work of the CTBTO in advancing verification for peace.

UPF has long been committed to inter-Korean dialogue, exemplified by the visit of its co-founders, Rev. Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han, to Pyongyang in December 1991. During their meeting with DPRK President Kim Il Sung, both sides affirmed that nuclear energy must be used only for peaceful purposes and that North and South Korea should avoid confrontation and pursue common ground through dialogue. 

Subsequent humanitarian initiatives by UPF’s founders, from business ventures like Pyonghwa Motors to cultural exchanges such as visits by the Little Angels, demonstrated engagement to reduce tensions and build mutual understanding. These experiences inspired the Northeast Asia Peace Initiative (NEAPI), which develops this legacy through civic engagement and cultural exchange. These efforts align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the CTBT vision of cooperation through science, verification, and openness. They also resonate with UPF initiatives such as Peace Road, which encourage contact, exchange, and friendship among peoples along routes that reflect division.

UPF Think Tank 2022 meetings and NEAPI consultations brought together policymakers, academics, and other stakeholders. Their discussions concluded that solutions require inclusive dialogue, credible verification, economic cooperation, and respect for the concerns of all parties. In this way, the region can move beyond mistrust toward a future based on shared interests and a sense of one family under God.

The Vienna session offers an opportunity to integrate the technical expertise of the CTBTO with broader efforts for peace and cooperation in Northeast Asia. UPF recognizes and welcomes the contributions of all governments and stakeholders who support dialogue that leads to verification, disarmament, regional cooperation, and the promotion of human security. 

Dr. Tageldin Hamad, President, UPF-International November 10 2025