wfn.org | Ecumenical Leaders Take Food Aid and Hope to North and South

["Leslie Tune" <ltune@ncccusa.org>]

NCC/CWS Delegation to North Korea Includes Humanitarian Aid,
Visit to Demilitarized Zone, Worship with Church Community

Seoul, South Korea/New York, November 17 -- Dr. Robert W. Edgar, General
Secretary of the National Council of Churches USA (NCCUSA), and the Rev.
John L. McCullough, Executive Director of the global humanitarian agency
Church World Service (CWS), report significant results from their meetings
in North Korea, which took place there Nov. 12-14.  The Korean Christians
Federation (KCF), a long-standing ecumenical partner based in Pyongyang,
hosted the seven-member delegation of U.S. ecumenical leaders who will spend
this week in Seoul, South Korea meeting with officials, participating in a
specially convened National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK) Assembly,
and taking part in an international Interfaith Peace Conference.

HUMANITARIAN AID DISTRIBUTED

The delegation celebrated a mission accomplished as they monitored the
distribution of 420 metric tons (132,000 pounds) of refined wheat flour that
was donated by Church World Service and was one of the primary reasons for
the group's visit to Pyongyang. The ecumenical leaders also had an
opportunity to tour the KCF's Bongsu Noodle Factory and Bakery, which
processes one metric ton of flour daily.

The shipment, which cost nearly $100,000 ($99,960) to deliver, filled seven
railway wagons, each carrying 2,400 55-pound bags of flour-enough for some
132,000 loaves of bread.  This supply could last through 2004. NCC/CWS
member denominations raised the money to send this shipment, including a
special $50,000 contribution from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
(ELCA).  Since the outbreak of the food crisis in 1996, the value of food
aid provided by CWS to North Korea totals close to $4.5 million.

In addition, Rick Corsino, the World Food Program Country Director, and
Umberto Greco of the WFP's NGO Office briefed the delegation on the food
shortage and the general humanitarian situation. Both officials expressed
deep concern about the decline in the quantity of international assistance,
with Corsino encouraging the global community to respond generously to the
United Nations $200 million Consolidated Appeal that was announced November
15, 2000.

CHALLENGES CONTINUE

For the delegation, a sobering visit to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) at
Panmumjom brought home the tragedy of the Korean division, which has
resulted in the separation of an estimated 10 million family members.

"The high-tech security and the ubiquitous modern military surveillance
technology-as American and North Korean soldiers stand eye-ball to eye-ball
across this ideological divide-were a sharp reminder that the Korean War has
not, in fact, ended.  Equally sobering to us was the North Korean
understanding of the role that the U.S. played in creating and perpetuating
the division," says CWS Senior Advisor Victor Hsu, who is one of the
delegates.

The delegation also had an opportunity to meet with Vice Chairman Kim Young
Dae of the Supreme People's Assembly, the third-ranking person in the North
Korean government.  The group exchanged views on U.S.-North Korean
relations, the prospects for the Six-Party Talks on the nuclear issue,
improvements in Inter-Korean relations and the continuing and deepening
humanitarian crisis.

By far, the highlight of the trip for each member of the delegation was the
visit to the Protestant Chigul Church of Pyongyang and a North Korean house
church located on Tong-Il Road in Pyongyang's Nangnang district. The KCF had
arranged these two weekday encounters at the request of the delegation.
Even as challenges continue, the delegation was filled with thanksgiving as
the members prayed and sang hymns together with their Korean brothers and
sisters. They shared expressions of great joy and words of encouragement and
comfort to each other and pledged their common commitment to peace and the
reunification of Korea.

NCC/CWS KOREAN INITIATIVE

The visit marks the culmination of a year long initiative to address the
burgeoning political and humanitarian crisis on the Korean peninsula. The
delegation continues meetings this week with South Korean President Roh
Moon-Hyeon and the Minister of Reunification as well as with the National
Council of Churches in Korea.

In addition to Dr. Edgar and the Rev. McCullough, delegation members
included
Brian Grieves, Officer for Peace and Justice Ministries of The Episcopal
Church, New York City; Mervin Keeney, Executive Director Global Mission
Partnerships, Church of the Brethren, Elgin, Ill.; Victor Hsu, Senior
Advisor to the Church World Service Executive Director, New York City; Sara
Lisherness, Coordinator, Presbyterian Peacemaking Program, Presbyterian
Church (U.S.A.), Louisville, Ky., and Zhu Xiaoling, Area Executive for East
Asia and the Pacific, Global Ministries, United Church of Christ/Wider
Church Ministries Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)/Division of
Overseas Ministries/ Cleveland, Ohio.

Finally, in response to an invitation from the Department of State, members
of the delegation will provide a briefing to Assistant Secretary James
Kelley on November 26.	In June, U.S. and South Korean ecumenical leaders
held talks with high officials at the U.S. Department of State and the
National Security Council about the serious political and humanitarian
situation on the peninsula. This briefing will serve as a follow-up and
update to those conversations.

The National Council of Churches USA is the nation's leading ecumenical
agency, comprising 36 Protestant, Orthodox and Anglican member churches,
which, in turn, count 50 million adherents in 140,000 local congregations.

Church World Service is a cooperative ministry providing sustainable
self-help and development, disaster relief, and refugee assistance in
partnership worldwide.

Media Contacts:
Leslie Tune
National Council of Churches, Washington
202.544.2350
ltune@ncccusa.org

Ann Walle
Church World Service
212.870.2654
awalle@churchworldservice.org

Wesley Pattillo
National Council of Churches, New York
212.870.2048
wpattillo@ncccusa.org

Rev. Leslie C. Tune
Washington Communication Officer
National Council of Churches USA/Church World Service
(202) 544-2350, ext. 11

---
Send E-mail address changes to: nccc_usa@ncccusa.org