Committed to peace and reunification of the Korean Peninsula, the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (PROK) expresses its sincere condolences to the family and the whole nation of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) for the death of Leader Kim Jung-Il. We pray that God's consolation be with the North Korean people who are in the midst of grieving and suffering, and that the people overcome their deep grief and the North Korean society will be stabilized.

The demise of Leader Kim Jung-Il should not be made as a condition for worsening of the North and South relationship and aggravating tension and threat on the Korean Peninsula. Rather it should be a moment to reflect on the meaning of the North-South Joint Declarations signed by Leader Kim Jung- Il and the two former South Korean Presidents Kim Dae-Jung and Roh Moo-Hyun, and finding means to fulfill the agreements in achieving genuine reconciliation and reunification of the Korean Peninsula.

We hope that the South Korean government take this as an opportunity to ease the conflict between North and South and create peaceful conditions by sending condolence delegation to the DPRK consisting of government representatives as well as from society including representatives of religious communities and paying respects to the deceased North Korean leader.

We request our partners and friends all over the world to pray together with the PROK that this critical moment would be a ripe moment for building peace in the region of North East Asia and not as threat to the security on the Korean peninsula.

December 20, 2011

Rev. Bae Tae-Jin
General Secretary
Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (PROK)

Rev. Han Ki-Yang
Chairperson
Peace and Reunification Committee
Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (PROK)