National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK)

Urgent Appeal to the Internantional Community

Jeremiah 33:6 "Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security"

"War destroys all of us: we desperately appeal for peace on the Korean peninsula"

The international society is keeping a close eye on the Korean peninsula. Following the North Korea’s nuclear tests, dangers of war pose imminent threat to the Korean peninsula. There has been an ongoing “war of words” even in the United Nations, where peace should be pronounced. This war of rhetoric has led to the United States’ Air Force deployment of B1-B bomber beyond the Northern Limit Line (NLL) under South Korea’s silent consent. As a response, North Korea has claimed to exercise self-defense procedures against the US.

Peace cannot be achieved through arms. Armaments would only lead to the destruction.

As apostles of peace, the Korean churches, together with 10 million followers, strongly oppose a second war in the peninsula and therefore would not tolerate any forms of military actions aggravating the situation.

Hence, to resolve the current severe crisis in a peaceful manner, we sincerely appeal the following to the governments, churches and civil societies in the world:

The United States should immediately halt its military threats as well as sanctions on the North Korea and create an atmosphere for a peaceful dialogue.

North Korea should stop its nuclear tests and respond to the dialogue requests of the neighboring countries including South Korea and the US.

We demand denuclearization to all nuclear power states including the US as we support “denuclearization of the whole world” declared by the World Council of Churches.

South Korea should consolidate all its efforts to bring the US and North Korea to the table for dialogue. We urge the South Korean government to immediately dispatch special envoys to North Korea, the US, China, Russia and Japan in order to deescalate the present tension and seek ways for peace. We ask political leaders, the media and people in South Korea to cease the war-provoking words and cooperate together for peace- building.

In 2015, North and South exchanged artillery fire at the western border, but both governments peacefully overcame the crisis with dialogue. Dialogue is the only way to avert a war.

We appeal, again, to all peace-loving governments, churches and people to “prevent war and give peace a chance on the Korean peninsula.”

September 28, 2017

Rev. Choi, Ki-Hak, Moderator, The Presbyterian Church of Korea
Bishop. Jun, Myung Ku, President Bishop, The Korean Methodist Church
Rev. Yoon, Sei-Kwan, Moderator,The Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea
Comm. Kim, Pil-Soo, The Salvation Army Korea THQ
The Most Rev. Onesimus Dongsin Park, Primate of the Anglican Church of Korea
Rev. Lee, Yang-Ho, President, Korea Evangelical Church
Rev. Kim, Seo-Ho, Moderator, The Korea Assemblies of God
Metropolitan Ambrosios, Orthodox Church in Korea
Rev. Kim, Chul-Hwan, President, The Lutheran Church in Korea

Metropolitan Ambrosios of Korea
President
The National Council of Churches in Korea

Rev. Kim Young Ju
General Secretary
The National Council of Churches in Korea


Siehe auch die Pressemitteilung des ÖRKI/WCC

Und Nachrichten aus der Kath. Kirche in Südkorea