wfn.org | Episcopalians: Consultation urgently calls for peaceful solution to Korean crisi

[dmack@episcopalchurch.org]

June 24, 2003

2003-148

Episcopalians: Consultation urgently calls for peaceful solution 
to Korean crisi

by James Solheim

(NCC/ENS) A three-day consultation on the Korean crisis ended 
with urgent calls for fresh talks with North Koreans in an 
effort to find a peaceful solution to one of the world's most 
dangerous confrontations.

"It is our conviction that diplomacy and negotiations remain the 
best approach for finding durable solution," said a final 
statement on June 18 signed by 80 participants from churches, 
humanitarian agencies, the United Nations, academia and other 
sectors. "The conclusion of a non-aggression pact between North 
Korea and the United States renouncement of preemptive attack 
and negotiation of a peace . As well as action to address the 
humanitarian needs of the North Koreans.

In the final message, participants noted that for two decades 
the National Council of Churches (NCC) and Church World Service 
(CWS) "have actively engaged their member communions in 
responding to the Korean people's aspiration for peace and 
reunification. We have encouraged our government and Congress to 
take bold steps to help break down the walls of division between 
North and South Korea" and provided over $4 million in 
humanitarian aid.

In a plan of action, the consultation urged member communions to 
encourage their congregations to be peacemakers and advocates 
for resolution of the current conflict through peaceful means 
and called on the ecumenical community to continue its nurture 
of ties with the Christian community on the Korean peninsula.

Role of United States crucial

The role of the United States is crucial, participants argued. 
"If the United States were to take the lead in effecting a 
peaceful settlement, it would get universal support," said 
Ambassador Maurice Strong, special adviser to the Secretary 
General of the United Nations. "We can get a settlement--if we 
want one. The question is whether the U.S. government wants it 
or just wants an excuse for regime change," said Dr. Selig 
Harrison of the Center for International Policy.

Strong said that he was optimistic that it was possible to 
achieve a comprehensive settlement that guarantees North Korea's 
security and sovereignty and helps North Korea solve its food 
and energy crises, develop economically and normalize relations 
with the international community. In addressing the role of the 
churches, he said, "The difference you can make has never been 
more important than now or in any crisis. You can affect this 
crisis even more than you aspired to affect Iraq."

Korean expert N.A Namkung agreed, sharing his belief that many 
in the North Korean government "regard church-based groups to be 
North Korea's only genuine link to the outside world. In their 
economic distress, these churches have been a lifeline. I think 
there is genuine appreciation for what these groups have done."

"We must stand with our partners who have worked so long and 
hard for reconciliation and reunification," said the Rev. Brian 
Grieves, director of the church's Peace and Justice Ministries. 
He said that several participants in the meeting shared deeply 
personal stories that added a human dimension to the crisis. 
"And that is where the church should be--standing with those who 
are suffering," he said. While there was some optimism about the 
political and diplomatic agenda, Grieves said that others warned 
that changing the culture in North Korea, and releasing the 
energy of the youth, would be much more difficult.

"One of our conclusions coming out of the consultation is the 
need to do a better job on telling the story of the struggle for 
reunification to the wider Church in the U.S," he said. "We need 
to ratchet up our efforts as we have in the Middle East these 
past couple of years."

Grieves reported that this summer's General Convention would 
consider a resolution (A036) that "would give us a strong policy 
base for our advocacy." It calls for peaceful reunification but 
also calls for special attention to the humanitarian needs -- 
including development and the end of political demonization.

Policy struggles

Namkung said that "hawks" and "moderates" in both the USA and 
Korea are engaged in policy struggles. A policy "based on the 
mirage of North Korea's imminent collapse" only strengthens the 
hawks in North Korea, thereby retarding reforms and "hastening 
the advent of a nuclearized North Korea." During informal talks 
recently in Beijing, the North Koreans admitted that they 
already had nuclear weapons and had deployed them.

Noting that on July 27 the world marks the 50th anniversary of 
the armistice agreement that divided the peninsula but did not 
officially end the war, the Rev. John McCullough, director of 
CWA, said that "it is imperative church leaders from the United 
States and from Korea come together and merge our voices and 
passion to effect a different future." NCC General Secretary Bob 
Edgar added, "We need to advance not a view of preemptive war 
but of diplomatic priorities, not of first strike but a view of 
care for one another. If we want to show shock and awe, we need 
to show love and justice."

"As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to ministries of 
reconciliation, to work unceasingly to break down the barriers 
that divide human beings one from another," said the final 
statement. "This reconciliation is urgently needed today in 
Korea, which for half a century has been divided. The people who 
live in this divided country are yearning for reconciliation. 
Reconciliation is also necessary between the USA and Korea. The 
churches," it argued, "must engage in a ministry of 
reconciliation, reaching out to Christians and Korean people of 
other faiths to engage them in dialogue as well as to affirm our 
common humanity with all members of God's family."

The statement concluded that "confrontational policies risk 
provoking North Korea's rulers to escalate the nuclear crisis, 
to press ahead with the further development of its nuclear 
program, and to significantly increase the risk for millions of 
people on the Korean peninsula."

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--James Solheim is director of the Episcopal News Service.