Workshop for a peace treaty in Korea Opening service

Syntiche Dedji

I’m in Korea to participate in a study workshop for a Korea Peace Treaty. Having spent the past few days in Jeju, we arrived in Seoul yesterday.

This morning I participated in an opening service for peace and reunification which took place in three languages: English, Korean and German, with amazing traditional Korean drumming.

This was followed by a fascinating lecture by Rev Kurt Esslinger on the US Occupation’s Perpetuation of Colonial Structures and it’s implications.

We are now sat in a lecture by Dr Noh Jong Sun (pictured) which began with the statement: "The situation for reunification in Korea is no longer hopeful". Certainly a good way of capturing our attention! When I posed the question of where that leaves Korea, what his thoughts are for the future, and what our response should be, the answer was that it benefits the US, Japan, China and international governments to have a divided peninsula, therefore realistically the situation is not hopeful. What is hopeful are the people. The people seek peace and reunification. Much food for thought and cause for prayer.

wp 20160519 003

wp 20160519 006

wp 20160519 015