Organizations urge Seoul to maintain inter-Korea exchanges
Civic organizations and religious leaders, concerned about the political situation on the Korean peninsula following the missile crisis, urged the government to maintain inter-Korean economic cooperation, such as humanitarian aid, Mt. Geumgang (Kumkang) tours, and the Gaeseong (Kaesong) Industrial Complex project. In a statement, the Citizens’ Solidarity for Peace and Unification said that “humanitarian aid for the North should continue,” voicing concern for the government’s halting of rice and fertilizer aid for the North after the North’s missile test-launches July 5. “While the North is suffering severe hardship due to floods, the South attempts to make a bargain with people’s right to live,” saying that the government had turned a humanitarian issue into a military one. By taking such an attitude, they said, "Seoul is abandoning its minimum role as leverage” in the international situation. The groups and religious leaders decried the suspension of South-North exchanges and the use of economic sanctions against Pyongyang, saying that people should not try to create a crisis.The Korean Council of Religious Leaders (KCRL), a meeting of leaders of the country’s seven major religions, issued an appeal to the nation, saying that “the humanitarian South-North exchanges, such as family reunions and aid for North Korea’s flood victims, and inter-Korea civilian exchanges, like Mt. Geumgang tours and the Gaeseong Industrial Complex, should be maintained for the reasons of “‘brotherly love’ between and reconciliation of the two Koreas.” The North has unilaterally cancelled remaining separated-family reunions scheduled for this summer. Many religious leaders, including Ven. Jigwan, head of the Buddhist Chogye Order, Rev. Park Chong-sun of the Christian Council of Korea (CCK), and Archibishop Kim Hi-jung, joined the movement.
