General News and Announcements

June 18, 2009

Partners of the United Church in South Korea are calling on the international community and the South Korean President, Mr. Lee Myung Bak, to work together to find a peaceful solution to the escalating tension in the Korean Peninsula. They fear the tension could "trigger an arms race throughout Asia and…threaten the peace and security of the global community."

In an urgent appeal* to United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (PROK) expressed its anxiety about the new sanctions that the UN imposed on June 12 against North Korea in response to its two nuclear tests. Earlier in May, the UN Security Council issued a presidential statement condemning North Korea for launching a missile (which North Korea) claims was a satellite.

The June 12 resolution, which bans all arms exports, also gives UN member nations the power to stop and search North Korean ships. This is a potentially dangerous move that could lead to standoffs on the seas. PROK says that sanctions against North Korea have not worked: "Until now the sanctions…have only escalated the conflict and thus endangered peace and security in the international community." PROK calls for "diplomatic efforts that respects North Korea as a partner in dialogue," which it says "have had more effective results."

The call for peaceful diplomatic efforts to resolve the tension is echoed by the Korean National Council of Churches (KNCC).* The KNCC attributes the escalation of the conflict to the loss of mutual trust and the break in the dialogue between the authorities of the two states. Its statement says that President Lee Myung Bak has ignored the spirit of the June 15, 2000, and October 4, 2006, joint summit agreements between North and South Korea.

It urges the president not to misuse the deteriorating South-North relationship for internal political purposes and to not hold fast to his stringent policy toward North, which is leading the Korean peninsula into military confrontation by blocking and isolating North Korea. The KNCC called on President Lee to solve the tension through direct dialogue and cooperation with North Korean authorities.

Unfortunately, fresh assurances of support from U.S. President Barack Obama have only reinforced the tough talk of President Lee. Following a meeting between the two presidents, Mr. Obama declared on June 16 that the United States and its allies will aggressively enforce fresh international penalties against North Korea and stop rewarding its leaders for repeated provocation. The Korean president warned that North Korea's tactics will not be tolerated.

In the last 25 years, the United Church has consistently worked with partners in North and South Korea and the global ecumenical community to promote dialogue and cooperation and realize peace and reunification in the Korean Peninsula. During a visit to North Korea last April, United Church representatives witnessed the impact of the long-standing conflict on the lives of North Koreans as well as the people's anxiety about imminent military confrontation. United Church partner Korean Christian Federation fervently urged the United Church to encourage stronger ecumenical solidarity and advocacy during this time of uncertainty. Read the Korean Christian Federation's statement [PDF: 2 pp/18 KB].