WCC General Secretary Welcomes North Korea Nuclear Deal

The World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev Dr Samuel Kobia has welcomed as "a major breakthrough" the 13 February agreement at the Six Party Talks in Beijing.

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has now committed itself to take initial steps towards de-nuclearisation in return for energy and economic aid.

The agreement "is a major breakthrough in efforts to restore peace and normalcy in the region", says Kobia in a statement issued on 15 February.

The agreement "vindicates the WCC longstanding policy of engagement and dialogue to resolve tension and conflict in North East Asia", he adds.

The Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea, a member of the WCC fellowship, has also welcomed the agreement and urging the Six Party states to "develop a concrete road map for the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula" as well as for the normalisation of diplomatic relations between the DPRK and the United States and Japan.

[Source: WCC]