South Korea urges respect for North Korean sovereignty
· UPIJuly 29 (Asia Today) -- South Korean Vice Unification Minister Kim Nam Jung met with representatives of seven major religious traditions Wednesday and emphasized the importance of respecting North Korea's sovereignty to promote peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula.
About 10 representatives from Buddhism, Protestantism, Catholicism, Won Buddhism, Cheondoism, Confucianism and the Association of Korean Native Religions attended the policy meeting.
"The religious community can play an important role in expanding public consensus on peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula," Kim said.
The meeting followed an agreement reached at a similar gathering in March for the Unification Ministry and religious leaders to maintain regular communication.
Kim said the ministry would continue working to improve regulations and policies to protect the autonomy of private organizations.
"I hope the Unification Ministry and religious communities will continue to communicate and cooperate closely," he said.
Religious representatives agreed that mutual respect is essential for dialogue and cooperation and proposed specific ways to put that principle into practice.
They also described efforts by their religious communities to reduce hostility toward North Korea in South Korean society and promote greater public awareness of peace.
At their March meeting, ministry officials and religious leaders discussed cooperation on support for North Korean defectors settling in South Korea and the possible repatriation of North Korean soldiers' remains buried in Jeokseong Township in Paju, north of Seoul.
-- Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI
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Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260729010011024