JourneyOnline
Geneva, 25 May (ENI)
At a time when the international community is reviving a vision of a world free of nuclear weapons, the latest North Korean nuclear test is a source of profound concern, World Council of Churches general secretary, Rev Samuel Kobia has said.
"The World Council of Churches is deeply troubled by North Korea’s nuclear test and profoundly concerned for the people of North Korea and surrounding countries", Mr Kobia said in a 25 May statement.
"There is no place for nuclear arsenals in international affairs – whether by a country like North Korea or by the eight other self-appointed nuclear powers that would have others believe their security requires weapons of mass destruction," asserted Kobia.
The WCC head praised as "remarkably positive" a meeting on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty held at the United Nations 10 days earlier.
Still, said Mr Kobia, "It is unfortunate that North Korea was not there; neither were Pakistan, India or Israel."
The WCC said its governing bodies have repeatedly called on all States to join in efforts towards the elimination of nuclear weapons. Many WCC member churches have condemned nuclear weapons as a sin against God and humankind, said Mr Kobia.
