wfn.org | WCC Gen. Sec.'s Visit to N. Korea

[Sheila MESA <smm@wcc-coe.org>]

World Council of Churches
Press Update
23 April 1999

WCC GENERAL SECRETARY'S VISIT TO NORTH KOREA

cf. WCC Press Release of 13 April 1999

For the first time in its history, North Korea received a visit from a general
secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC). During his visit from
17-20 April, Rev. Dr Konrad Raiser, accompanied by an ecumenical
delegation, met with representatives of the Korean Christian Federation
(KCF) as well as with Kim Yong Nam, president of the presidium of the
Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of
Korea (DPRK).

At a ceremony at the KCF office on 17 April, Dr Raiser gave Rev.
KangYong Sup, chairman of the KCF, a list detailing the contents of an
aid shipment coordinated by "Action by Churches Together" (ACT),
comprising food items, medicines and medical equipment. To date, the
WCC through ACT has channeled the equivalent of US$ 10 million of aid
and relief assistance to the people of DPRK. This humanitarian effort
began in 1995.

On Sunday, 18 April, the delegation worshiped at Bongsu Church in
Pyongyang and also visited Chilgol Church.  At Bongsu Church, Dr Raiser
delivered a message to the congregation, based on John 21: 1-14  -
Christ is present where there is need. He stated that the risen Christ
was made known to his disciples through the breaking and sharing of
bread. Christ knew and responded to the real needs of people.  The
solidarity shown by the ecumenical community in seeking to respond to
the needs of the people of Korea is an expression of the love
demonstrated by Christ.

At the meeting with the president of the presidium of the Supreme
People's Assembly of the DPRK, Kim Yong Nam thanked the WCC for its
efforts to work towards a peaceful reunification of Korea. He also
expressed his gratitude for the humanitarian aid provided to the Korean
people.

Since 1984, the WCC has promoted a process of reconciliation and
reunification through consultations with representatives of churches in
North and South Korea. These discussions began in September 1984 at
Tozanso, Japan. A second discussion at Glion, Switzerland, in
September 1986, was followed by a series of meetings. 

In December 1998, a KCF delegation participated in the WCC's eighth
assembly at Harare, where they were enthusiastically received by the
member churches of the WCC.

The members of the delegation accompanying Dr Raiser were: WCC Asia
secretary Dr Park Kyung Seo, executive secretary for International
Relations Clement John,  ACT coordinator Miriam Lutz and WCC
audiovisual media coordinator Peter Williams.

Please note that photos of the WCC's visit to North Korea are now
available on line:
http://wccx.wcc-coe.org/photo/news/n-korea/nkorea.html
e-mail: photo@info.wcc-coe.org

Dr Raiser will be prepared to talk with journalists after his return from
Korea on the afternoon of 26 April.

Contact:  Karin Achtelstetter, Media Relations Officer          

**********
The World Council of Churches is a fellowship of churches, now 338, in
more than 100 countries in all continents from virtually all Christian
traditions.  The Roman Catholic Church is not a member church but
works cooperatively with the WCC.  The highest governing body is the
Assembly, which meets approximately every seven years.  The WCC
was formally inaugurated in 1948 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.  Its staff is
headed by general secretary Konrad Raiser from the Evangelical Church
in Germany.

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