Dear brothers and sisters of the Global Church,     At the middle of June, I was attending the International Consultation on Justice, Peace and Reconciliation on the Korean Peninsula, 17-19 June, convened on the 30th anniversary of the Tozanso Consultation.   At that time, my Korean brother in Christ, Rev. Kang Myong Chol, chairperson of the KCF, said "I believe this gathering of brothers and sisters of churches of various countries is a manifestation of the strong desire and will to pool efforts and actively contribute to the cause of peace and reunification on the Korean Peninsula.  Since Emmanuel God will always be with us and lead us to the road of justice and peace, the ecumenical cause.will surely be achieved under the special divine protection and grace of our Lord."  I give thanks for this opportunity to work in fellowship with him and the other delegates from North Korea.   At the end of the month, I will attend the Kansas City Methodist Assembly to carry to those brothers and sisters the important role for them to play of urging the US government to act for Peace and Reunification in Korea.   In our history, the last Joseon emperor, King Gojong, appealed to the Americans to honour the treaty signed between Korea and the US in 1882 to help us maintain Korea’s independence, at a time when we didn’t want to be occupied by Japan and needed US help.  At the time, the US rejected giving any help.  We do not want this to happen again.  The division of Korea is an issue that belongs to the superpowers to take responsibility for making right.   June 25 represents the 64th anniversary of the beginning of the tragic event called the Korean War, a time which devastated our Peninsula and tore us with pain.  This day falls in the week which NCCK calls National Reconciliation Week.  In this week we pray that the struggles of war will be forgiven and that we will work together, North and South, in honest and loving acts of reconciliation, leading at last to reunification.   As we pray this way, we also pray for other places of strife in the world, and we share the blessings and the challenges of the world-wide family of God.  May God’s blessings be with you.   Kim Young Ju, General Secretary   http://www.oikoumene.org/en/press-centre/news/church-leaders-meet-and-agree-to-advance-peace-on-korean-peninsula - link to WCC Bussey Consultation