WCC Member Churches in South Korea

National Council of Churches in Korea

Korean Christian Federation

Geneva, 1 July 2008

Dear ecumenical friends,

 

Greetings from the World Council of Churches.

 

I am pleased to share with you herewith attached a copy of my letter to the President of the Republic of Korea. On the request of the General Secretary of the NCC Korea and suggested by the Steering Committee of the Ecumenical Forum for Peace, Reunification and Development Cooperation on the Korean Peninsula, which is coordinated and chaired by the WCC, I have conveyed the ecumenical family's concern on the new South Korean government's policy towards North Korea.

 

As usual we have been following the trends and events on the Korean Peninsula and are concerned about the shift in the South Korean government's policy towards North Korea which was announced by President Lee Myung-bak in his inaugural address "Denuclearisation, Opening and Vision 3000". At the same time, North Korea's declaration last week of the dismantling of its nuclear programme gives us hopeful signs. I am sure it will be a very important step in the ‘disablement process', and this new development will encourage all those who are involved in the six-party talks and put them in a good position to move into the next phase.

 

As Prophet Micah said, let us hope that "they shall all sit under their own vines and under their own fig trees, and no one shall make them afraid" (Micah 4:4 RSV). Let this be our continued prayer and hope for the emergence of a reconciled and reunified Korea soon, where lasting peace and security of all are ensured.

 

Yours in His Service,

Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia
WCC general secretary