Co-organised by the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA), 55 church leaders and consultants from North and South Korea, nine countries of Asia, Europe and North America met at the Tozanso YMCA conference centre in Japan from 16-20 October. Under the theme “Korean Peninsula- A Flashpoint in North East Asia”, they celebrated the 20th Anniversary of Tozanso Process, which is an ecumenical initiative for peace and reunification in Korea.
The event proved to be fruitful.; church leaders across the world took the opportunity to discuss the role of churches in the reunification of the Korean Peninsula.
Church leaders debated on the two approaches adopted by the major political stakeholders to reunite North and South Korea - the multilateral Six-Party Talks or the bilateral talk between North Korea and America. U.S President George Bush backs the first one involving North and South Korea, the US, Japan, China and Russia while US Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry favours the later one.
Dr. James Laney, President Emeritus of Emory University in Atlanta Georgia, and former US Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, said President Bush’s branding of North Korea as part of the so-called axis of evil has hindered the reconciliation process in the Korean Peninsula. He condemned Bush’s policy towards North Korea as not being a Christian virtue.
Laney urged world leaders to acknowledge the respect that should be given to all people in the world who are all created in the image of God. He suggested that USA should engage with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), give security assurances, stop the isolation, and stop exploiting the fears of people. In his opinion, both the multilateral Six-Party Talks and the bilateral talk between North Korea and America could be run together at the same time.
The Rev. Kang Yong Sop, Chairman of the Korean Christians Federation of the DPRK called on churches to continue their vigilance in helping to remove US hostile moves toward the DPRK and supporting the implementation of the June 15, 2000 North-South Joint Declaration.
The Rev. Paik Do-woong, General Secretary of the National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK) pledged that NCCK would continue to seek the ecumenical community’s commitment to human rights, democracy, peace and the reunification of Korea.
Dr. David Kwang-sun Suh, professor emeritus of theology at Ewha Women’s University and a chief drafter of the 1988 NCCK Declaration of Korean Churches on National Reunification and Peace, reflected on this document in his Bible study. He urged NCCK to reinforce the content of the document. He led the participants to join in the confession of sins of hatred and demonising of adversaries as well.
Representatives of ecumenical partners in Japan, USA, Canada and Germany presented a review of their activities in the framework of the Tozanso Process.
All the leaders expressed their hope in the Tozanso Process. CCA general-secretary Dr Ahn Jae-Woong said, “The unification of Korea is neither rhetoric nor a slogan, but a permanent mandate to be achieved by peaceful means.” He also added that the Korean people cannot achieve unification alone but need the help of the global community.
The Rev. Paik Do-woong, General Secretary of NCCK said that he believes peaceful coexistence has become a current that cannot be reversed.
Overall, speaking in general terms, the consultation has proposed the following:
- U.S and DPRK should reconcile with each other to provide a solid foundation for ending the Armistice and replacing it with a Peace Treaty. And it is the key to diffusing tension in the region.
- Japan has to play an essential role in creating a climate for peace, security and regional security by the implementation of the Japan - DPRK Pyongyang Declaration 17 September, 2002.
- Humanitarian support for food, medicine, and other inputs should not be abused for political ends. Japan, USA and other countries should provide assistance on this aspect without conditions attached. Donor countries should also consider other forms of assistance like the provision of energy and development aid.
- Lifting of economic sanctions of the DPRK will lead to better living standards and progress in different sectors of society. The US and Japan should refrain from using sanctions as a political leverage in their policy of confrontation and isolation.
