January 2015, the 70th anniversary since the division of Korea: Statement by Christian Network for Peace and Unification(CNPU) with the long-cherished desire for a Korean unification

In January 2015, the members of Christian Network for Peace and Unification would like to remind ourselves of the biblical example of Israelis who were liberated from the Babylonian captivity after 70 years. Here we are to make a statement with aspirations from all Korean churches and the entire nation at large for the two Koreas to be unified into one according to the gospel by wishing for the same blessings be on Koreans having lived in agony from the division of people, nation and territory over the past 70 years.

▲ Kang Ryong, left, the representative of New Korea Network and Kwon Sung-ah, a vice-chairman of Christian Society for National Reunification are making a public statement on desire for a Korean unification at the New Year's Prayer Meeting of CNPU in 28th of Janunary at Allen hall in Yonsei Univ. ⓒUKOREAnews

1. Proposal to PARK’s Government

President Park, in her 2015 New Year’s Address, delivered her will to improve inter-Korean relations and her sincerity was shared but there are some points of concern we would like to mention here.

First of all, no specific implementation plan seems to be present in her address as pointed out by experts. It is the common sense that under-the-table negotiations need to be preceded but there is no sign of preemptive effort made on the part of Park’s government so that concerns arise that this might end in empty word only as was her previous reference to ‘Korean unification as jackpot’.

Secondly, if Park’s government takes the initiative to improve South-North relations, it is expected that all kinds of attempts would be made to cast a chill over such an effort. The structural divide that has taken root in Korean soil for the last 70 years would reinforce and regenerate itself. We express our deepest concerns that it is highly probable that as all different reasons were raised, such a cooperative attempt for a talk between the south and the north would return to the ground zero and the pattern would repeat itself, bearing no fruit.

We urge Park’s government to declare its determination that trials of many kinds would be overcome and to put forth a detailed and preemptive effort.

2. Proposal to the authorities of North Korea

We urge the authorities of North Korea to listen more carefully to the human rights issues raised by the United Nations and the international community and to put an actual effort to improve the human rights conditions in North Korea. Moreover, instead of asking the south to stop military exercises and distributions of leaflets as a prerequisite for a talk, we recommend that you proceed with tactics that you do not lay down conditions for cooperation and dialogue so as to result in the problems of military exercises and distributions of leaflets to be resolved accordingly. The current inter-Korean relations are in the state that both sides need to go ahead with cooperation and dialogue even at the risk of possible confrontation rather than to wait for the time to be ripe so that they could come to cooperation and dialogue only upon fulfillment of mutual conditions. Unless there is a breakout of all-out war, no condition must be laid down to stop cooperation and dialogue. Neither nuclear abandonment nor suspension of military exercises must be proposed as a prerequisite for a talk and North Korea must learn that both need to come to agree on something tangible so as for us to put it into action right away. As once officially declared by the North Korean leader, in spite of all kinds of opposition and machinations, even in the face of pressures both at home and abroad that could threaten the regime, North Korea must maintain equanimity and confidence so as to continue on with inter-Korean cooperation and dialogue in order to complete the Korean unification. As demonstrated in the instance of Gaesung Industrial Complex, we appeal to the authorities of North Korea that such ongoing, unconditional, case–by-case approach to cooperation and dialogue, until an all-out war breaks out on the Korean peninsula, would eventually end up pulling down the divided wall.

3. Proposal to the United States of America

It is true that the US has defended South Korea against the military threat of North Korea. However, the US has prompted or threatened North Korea and as a result, brought back the North-South confrontation to the original point when South Korea attempted to improve relations with the north.

On January 1st and 2nd, 2015, as soon as a new year’s address was issued by the North Korean leader in which he hopes for better inter-Korean relations, the US jumped at the invitation by having posed sanctions on North Korea that target threeen tities: North Korean Reconnaissance General Bureau, two enterprises and 10 individuals, most of whom work for them, as a response to its hack attack on Sony Pictures Entertainment. Nevertheless, one leading cybersecurity firm, Norse Corp. said that Sony hack was an inside job and narrowed its list of suspects to a group of six people involving both former and current Sony employees including Lena, who have grudge against Sony Corp. and there is no evidence to link the hack to North Korea. The Obama Administration did not clarify Norse Corp’s analysis but instead hastened to impose economic sanctions against North Korea for its hack attack; its gives an impression that the US does not want to improve inter-Korean relations and even takes impractical measures in order to hinder such betterment of relations. The US has prevented the communization of the Korean peninsula and helped South Korea settle democracy in the country and attain economic development ever since the foundation of the country. It is also expected that there would be no lesser role played by the US, not only in the process of founding a new unified Korea, but also in the new era of unification. We desperately hope that cooperation from our closest ally would bring the divided Korea to a peaceful settlement, thereby helping the new unified Korea contribute to peace and prosperity in Northeast Asia and also throughout the world at large.

4. Proposal to the civic society both at home and abroad and overseas Koreans

A huge difference between the North Korean regime and its reality and those of South Korea makes confrontation inevitable but we need to overcome such and go ahead with cooperation and dialogue with the north. History has taught us enough that there is no wiser way than to proceed with a two track approach even though it is more likely that the difficulty of a two track approach might lead us to lean to one side. We need to rightfully raise issues of human rights, dictatorship, hereditary succession of three generations and nuclear armament to the attention of North Korea. Therefore, in balance with presentation of such problems, we urge the civic society both at home and abroad and overseas Koreans to cooperate actively with the authorities of the two Koreas to come to an agreement on a peaceful unification and improvement of relations.

Here we come to give a prayer to our heavenly father, the peace-maker. Lord, the Almighty who oversees the history of Korea and Northeast Asia, please let the mechanisms for keeping Korea divided not into action. Please help the authorities of the two Koreas turn their good will into action and realties. Please lead them not into absurd confrontation by having laid down conditions of many kinds for a talk. Please help war not even take shape and lead the two Koreas to dialogue, cooperation and exchanges with sincerity and continuity.

Jan. 28th, 2015. At New Year's Prayer meeting of CNPU

CNPU  cnpu@cnpu.kr

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