Church Leaders Make Case for Nukes Abolition Amid N. Korea Tests

Wednesday, Jun. 3, 2009 Posted: 12:01:54PM HKT

A visitor looks at the mock North Korean Scud-B missile, left, and other South Korean missiles at the Korea War Memorial Museum in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, May 30, 2009. North Korea threatened to retaliate if punitive U.N. sanctions are imposed for its latest nuclear test, and U.S. officials said there are new signs Pyongyang may be planning more long-range missile launches. (Photo: AP Images / Lee Jin-man)

“The response from these faith leaders have been nothing short of astonishing – revealing a critical mass of support for nuclear weapon abolition from across the political and theological spectrum,” commented project founder Wigg-Stevenson.

According to the Federation of American Scientists, there are nine countries in the world today that possess nuclear weapons. Of the nine, four – North Korea, Pakistan, India and Israel – were not present at a meeting at the United Nationals last month on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which seeks to limit the spread of nuclear weapons.

Despite the absence of the remaining four nuclear powers, WCC leader Kobia said he was encouraged by the “remarkably positive meeting” on “the world's most important arms control treaty.”

“Many of the governments present are now speaking of cooperation to move the world beyond the nuclear threats and instabilities that developed during and since the Cold War,” Kobia reported.

In concluding, the ecumenical leader said he was optimistic about the international community’s re-kindling of the vision for a world free of nuclear weapons

“It is our hope and prayer that – in the Korean peninsula and globally – governments and civil society including faith-based groups will work resolutely to make this widely welcomed vision a reality,” Kobia stated.

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Eric Young
Christian Post Reporter