2917 Past Pupil Archbishop to visit North Korea
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".
