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Editorial
Peaceful Prospects in North East Asia
The General secretary of the World Council of Churches, the Revd Dr Samuel Kobia, surely spoke for all the Churches when he welcomed the agreement reached on 13th February at the six Party Talks in Beijing in which Pyongyang pledged to close its nuclear facilities in Yongbyon, in return for nuclear fuel. This, Dr Kobia said, was "a major breakthrough in efforts to restore peace and normality in the region". He added that the breakthrough vindicated the WCC’s long-standing policy of engagement and dialogue to resolve tension and conflict in North East Asia; the 9th October, 2006 nuclear testing by the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea had prompted a quick response from the WCC that, amongst others, had called for the international community to put nuclear disarmament and non proliferation firmly back on track.
Dr Kobia, in his statement following the 13th February agreement, referred to the WCC’s conviction "that conflict flashpoints can be more effectively addressed regionally" and stressed how "regional mechanisms and common security systems" needed to be encouraged. Rightly, Dr Kobia also called for the six Party states and the international community to monitor closely the progress during the sixty-day timetable set for implementation of the agreement.
These developments surely are a testimony to the importance of patient persistence in dialogue when crises arise – something which indeed can hardly be avoided in the real world. A way forward towards avoiding potential disaster on a massive scale in North East Asia has been found and it is a tribute to all concerned that such a situation has been reached. It is also an encouragement to others the world over who are working to overcome dangerous threats to peaceful co-existence among the nations. The 13th February agreement surely also comes as an important signal that constructive co-operation in the international community can achieve remarkable results.
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