Bishop's Letter - Korea: Kim, Jung-il
For he himself is our peace,
who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier,
the dividing wall of hostility
(Ephesians 2:14)
December 19, 2011
Dear United Methodists:
The death of Kim, Jung-il of North Korea is of momentous importance to our world. Just how it will impact the future of North Korea or the dream of eventual reunification with South Korea is unknown. To be very sure, North Korea is not like any other country. With the world's largest concentration of military forces stationed along the Demilitarized Zone and with the presence of nuclear weapons, the Korean peninsula remains as the most dangerous place in the world. Accordingly, in these uncertain times, let us pray that no one will choose violent means for political gains and that peace will prevail.
Change is inevitable. For the people who yearn for positive change in the Korean peninsula, this could be a time to be cautiously optimistic for better relations between South Korea and North Korea as well as between North Korea and the rest of the world. Hope for a better tomorrow for all Korean people must be kept alive.
In this Advent season of hope I bid your prayers for the Korean people who have been divided for so long and who passionately desire to live together in peace. Let us pray that God will break through ages of hostility and fashion a peaceable community of promise. Indeed, may all of us embrace the promise of the One who comes to us as Prince of Peace, Healer of our brokenness, and Hope of the world.
In Christ,
Jeremiah J. Park