The Prebyterian Church in the Republic of Korea  PROK

In Japan werden überlegungen darüber angestellt, ob nicht ein Präventivschlag gegen Nordkorea zu führen ist. Das zuständige Peace Community Movement Center der PROK äußert sich dezidiert:
Stellungnahme der PROK zu Überlegungen der japanischen Regierung

"All Who Draw the Sword will Perish by the Sword"

(Matthew 26:52b)

Statement by the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (PROK)
on Japan's consideration of a pre-emptive strike on North Korea
July 13, 2006

In our statement issued on July 7, 2006 the Peace Community Movement Center of the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (PROK) appealed to all countries in the North-East Asia region that "peace can not be achieved by weapons" and urged concerned countries to transform the current situation of conflict following the missile tests conducted by North Korea, into a constructive process toward peace.

Today, we are deeply concerned about the reaction by the Japanese government to North Korea's missile tests. On July 10, some Japanese top government officials and politicians floated the idea of staging a pre-emptive strike against the missile bases in North Korea.

During the Japanese colonial period most Asian countries suffered severely from Japanese tyranny inflicted on the people, and the pain still remains unhealed. It is therefore in this context that we strongly denounce the attempt of the Japanese government to revive its aggressive militarism on the pretext of the North Korea missile tests.

The idea of a pre-emptive strike obviously exposes the nature of the aggression of Japan. The idea itself seriously threatens not only the process of building peace on the Korean peninsula, but also the peace and security of the whole North-East Asia region. It runs contrary to "the spirit of the time" as we all strive for reconciliation, co-existence and co-operation in the region.

Therefore, we oppose any attempt by Japan to carry out a pre-emptive strike against North Korea as it surely intensifies the military tension in the region and eventually will lead all concerned countries to serious military confrontation.

We urge the Japanese government to immediately stop the discussion of the idea of a pre-emptive strike against North Korea and to commit Japan to building peace for the security of their own people in Japan and for peace in North-East Asia.

Yoon Kil-Soo, Rah Haek-Jib, Lee Hae-Hak
Co-Representatives, Peace Community Movement Center
The Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (PROK)