austraLasia #2917
 
Past Pupil Archbishop to visit North Korea

SEOUL: 18 September 2011 -- At a time when relations between divided Korea are at an all-time low, the Archbishop of Kwangju, Iginus Kim Hee-jong, a Salesian past pupil, is about to visit the North (on 21 September), as leader of a delegation of seven religious leaders, all members of the "Korean Conference of Religions for Peace" (KCRP), of which he is the President. The visit aims at "reopening the process of dialogue and peace, something that we dearly wish for in the North and the South " at a very difficult moment in the two countries' bilateral relationships where "all channels seem to be blocked".
    Relations took a serious nosedive after the sinking of the Cheonan, a South Korean Corvette, in April 2010, an episode that resulted in a political and military crisis and a further North Korean action (bombardment) on Yeonpyeong Island in 2010.
    The archbishop, who is also the President of the Episcopal Conference of Korea's Commission for Inter-religious Dialogue, has indicated that he has "high hopes for the trip". It is five years since a prelate has visited the North. "As religious leaders in Korea", he indicates " we believe we can play our part in building up peace and dialogue with our brothers in the North. We will try to renew relationships with the North: the visit is aimed at offering human support and letting the North Korean people know we stand by them".
Archbishop Iginus also added: "It is a very positive sign: the political authorities in the North invited us and the Government in the South agreed. We will meet political and civil authorities. We hope this visit can help reopen official dialogue between the two countries".