ICC Note: South Korean churches were in high spirit after leaders from the North and the South successfully held the historic meeting on April 27, 2018. Two sides pledged to officially end the Korean War and work together to achieve peace. Many churches had been praying for the unity of the divided peninsula for decades and this Summit to them was like an answer to their prayers.   

04/27/2018 North Korea (Christian Today) – The meeting between North Korea’s Kim Jong UN and South Korea’s Moon Jae In today is already being hailed as historic, with the two leaders pledging to work towards declaring an official end to the 1950s Korean War and committing to seek an agreement to establish ‘permanent’ and ‘solid’ peace.

Their declaration included promises to pursue phased arms reduction, cease hostile acts, transform their fortified border into a peace zone and seek multilateral talks with other countries including the United States.

‘The two leaders declare before our people of 80 million and the entire world there will be no more war on the Korean peninsula and a new age of peace has begun,’ they said.

While the meeting is acknowledged to be only a first step on a long road after years of increasing tension brought to a head by North Korea’s successful acquistion of long-range nuclear weapons capability, it is result not just of diplomacy but of prayer, Christians believe. Korean Christians have prayed for the unity of the divided peninsula for decades. The Korean Conference on Religion for Peace issued a statement beforehand saying: ‘Since the 2018 Winter Olympics, we have witnessed positive signs of peace in the region, which we hope will blossom like flowers do in the spring.’

It said: ‘We call on our government to fully carry out its obligations, not only as a mediator but also as a state directly involved in the matter.

‘We call on the North Korean government to use this perfect opportunity to put an end to division and break the fetters that have limited and restrained this land for over 70 years. We sincerely hope North Korea will pave the way for the Korean people to live together.’

Last night at a church in Paju, just south of the border, 30 Presbyterian ministers held an all-night vigil of prayer for the success of the summit meeting.

The National Council of Churches in Korea has been holding special prayer meetings for peace on the peninsula every day for the last week, while a group of Christian politicians held a morning of prayer and fasting for reunification at the National Assembly buildings, according to Yonhap News.

…

For interviews with Gina Goh, ICC’s Regional Manager, please contact Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator: [email protected].