PROK statement on missile test

by Global Ministries | published on Oct 10, 2014

In this present critical situation following North Korea’s missile-test launching, the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (PROK) has issued the following statement. Let us pray and act together to help bring peace to this region and the world.

“Peace Can Not Be Achieved By Weapons”

Statement of the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (PROK)
on the Missile Test-Launching by North Korea
July 7, 2006

The Peace Community Movement Center (PCMC) of the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (PROK) is deeply disappointed with North Korea’s decision to conduct missile tests on July 5, 2006, when we are consolidating all our efforts to achieve peace and security on the Korean peninsula as well as in the whole North-East Asia region. The missile issue is considered to be a tactic periodically used by North Korea to resolve the deadlock in relations between the USA and North Korea. However, we emphatically assert that this tactic of North Korea is seriously hampering the ongoing efforts of the international community to build peace in the North-East Asia region. The missile testing will surely intensify military tension among the concerned countries and increase international negative sentiment towards North Korea; this will in turn seriously affect the ongoing reconciliation process between North and South Korea.

Peace can not be achieved by weapons. We urge the North Korean government to not seek peace and security by reinforcing military force. We urgently appeal to the North Korean government that peace and security on the Korean peninsula can be achieved only through sincere cooperation and dialogue based on mutual trust between North Korea and neighbouring countries.

We believe that the missile testing by North Korea contributes to the deterioration of relations between North Korea and the US, and between North Korea and Japan. Therefore, we strongly assert that true peace in North-East Asia can not be established without normalizing diplomatic relations between North Korea and the US, and between North Korea and Japan.

At this critical point in time, we appeal once again to all countries in the North-East Asia region: peace can not be achieved by weapons. True peace can not be realized by a false security obtained forcefully by threatening the oppressors. Therefore, we urge all concerned countries to normalize their diplomatic relations with North Korea and transform the current situation of conflict into a constructive process toward peace.

Further, we urge the South Korean government to strengthen its relations with North Korea through cooperation and dialogue, for we believe that crisis can be a sign of hope.

Called by God to be peace-makers, we continue to pray and act together to transform the current crisis resulting from the missile tests into a momentum to open up a new era of dialogue and cooperation. We re-affirm our commitment to building mutual trust among nations in North-East Asia and to working for the ultimate realization of a ‘peace agreement’ on the Korean peninsula and the disarmament of the region.

Yoon Kil-Soo, Rah Haek-Jib, Lee Hae-Hak
Co-Representatives
Peace Community Movement Center
The Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (PROK)