News
The World Council of Churches (WCC) joined the National Council of Churches in South Korea (NCCK) in expressing grave concern at the redeployment of the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier group to the seas surrounding the Korean peninsula.
“In a context of already heightened tensions - especially in the midst of the ongoing joint US and South Korean Foal Eagle-Key Resolve military exercises and the steps being taken to deploy the US missile defence system THAAD in South Korea, and North Korean threats of a nuclear response - this constitutes a further escalation of military confrontation in the region,” reads the statement.
The WCC has been engaged for more than 30 years in promoting dialogue and encounter between North and South Korean Christians, accompanied and supported by representatives of the global fellowship of churches in WCC membership.
“Our purpose has been and continues to be the promotion of peace and reunification of a country and people divided by an unresolved conflict,” the statement continues. “Particularly in recent years almost all other channels of dialogue and encounter have been closed off, in favour of escalating military confrontation and tightening sanctions.”
Statement on Peace and Reunification of the Korean Peninsula, 12 April 2017
Joint North-South Korea Easter prayer published (WCC press release of 4 April 2017)
