Dear Rev. Toshimasa Yamamoto

Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ !

In commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Liberation of Korea from Japanese colonial rule and of the Japanese defeat of the Pacific War, and also in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the reopening of the diplomatic relationship between South Korea and Japan, we, the National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK), have worked closely the National Christian Council in Japan (NCCJ) to bury the unfortunate past and to promote friendly relations between the two nations.

It is, therefore, our great regret to hear that today the parliament of Shimane-prefecture in Japan made a very inappropriate decision to observe "Takeshima [Dokdo Island] Day" as if Dokdo is Japanese territory. It is also our great regret to hear that some Japanese textbook tries to distort and twist the historical facts of Japanese invasion to Korea, and that Japanese court of law has continuously refused to recognize the unfair treatment of Korean forced laborers.

We cannot but doubt whether the Japanese government truly reflects on its misconduct in the past and has a genuine will to promote a good relationship with neighboring countries. The Japanese government must learn from the German government which has made from time to time sincere apologies for its historical crimes and which tries to remember the unfortunate past by promoting joint research on history with neighboring nations.

We appreciate and admire that the NCCJ, though a minority in number, has made its sincere and sustaining effort to prevent the Japanese government from turning ultraconservative and to promote and preserve good neighborly relations with various Asian countries.

We ask the NCCJ, Japanese churches, and Japanese intellectuals for a more consolidated effort to guide the Japanese government back to the right path toward a new history of mutual respect and benefits in the region. We, the churches in Korea, will also do our best to overcome the present crisis between the two countries.

In closing, we would like to thank you again for your cooperation and solidarity.


Sincerely yours,

Paik. Do-Woong(Rev.)
General Secretary
National Council of Churches in Korea

CC. Rev. Park. Soo-Kil, General Secretary, Korea Christian Church in Japan