June 24, 2003
by James Solheim

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."

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