Korea: President of Catholic Bishops' Conference visits North with delegation of religious and civil leaders

Some members of the historic delegation

Source: Fides/ICN

A delegation of 250 South Korean religious leaders, government officials and representatives of civil society associations crossed the border and reached North Korea for a joint event on the occasion of the New Year. The delegation arrived at Mount Geumgang on the east coast of the north for a two-day stay. Leaders of the main religions of South Korea took part, as well as members of civil groups representing women, young people, agricultural communities, economy, environment, university, and peace movements.

The purpose of the visit was to establish relationships of trust and launch various projects and cooperation in various areas such as tourism, culture, religion, education, sport, art with exchanges among students, educators.

Among the delegation was Archbishop Hyginus Kim Hee-joong, President of the Episcopal Conference of Korea, and other leaders engaged in inter-Korean reconciliation movements. This was the first cross-border event of 2019 and is the result of meetings between members of the Northern Government and the Korean Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation, active in the government of Seoul.

As announced by the Ministry of Unification in Seoul, South Korea has approved more than a thousand requests of its citizens since mid-2017, giving permission to have contacts with North Korea, increasing cross-border contacts in the sports, cultural and religious sectors.

Kim Hong-gul, at the head of the Korean Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation, stressed the importance of dialogue and cooperation in the process of rapprochement between the two nations. The Council aims to support the policy of involvement and reconciliation already started in 2000 by former President Kim Dae-jung.

Several exchanges and meetings of inter-Korean civilians took place in 2018, when Presidents Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong-un met three times in April, May and September.