July 19, 2007

New York--Church World Service Executive Director John L. McCullough today called the recent decision by Korea to close its nuclear reactor in Yongbyon "a great and hopeful moment for North Koreans and for the larger world."

McCullough also joined with a group of prominent religious leaders, the National Religious Partnership on the Nuclear Weapons Danger, in a July 17 statement congratulating the Bush administration for successful diplomatic efforts toward the denuclearization of North Korea and urging the administration to apply a similar strategy to the Iranian nuclear standoff. (Read statement at www.faithfulsecurity.org.)

"The decision is long overdue," says McCullough about this first shutdown, "but it certainly is not too late." He believes the closing of the nuclear plant in a nation that has long focused a disproportionate amount of its human and natural resource on national defense "might be the first glimmer of light in a long time."

If it indeed is, McCullough continues, "then I hope America's next step will be to help North Korea shine. If Washington can help Pyongyang overcome its tendency toward suspicion and become more confident about the intentions of others, dynamics on the Korean peninsula and throughout the region will be dramatically transformed."

A February 2007 agreement between North Korea, the U.S., and other countries led to the Asian nation's shutdown, just days ago, of a nuclear reactor used to make weapons. The shutdown was verified earlier this week by both the United Nations and the International Atomic Energy Agency. North Korea is scheduled to participate in further talks with the U.S., South Korea, Japan, Russia, and China about dismantling all of its nuclear sites.

McCullough believes that the diplomacy that led to this significant first step toward nuclear disarmament could be useful in efforts to shut down such programs in other countries, as well.

"There is value in talking to each other and not just talking at or around each other," McCullough emphasizes.

"We share certain qualities, like our own sense of joy in life, our desire to live in peace with our neighbors, our hope for prosperity and fulfillment in life. Those are simple human values and yearnings that transcend both politics and theology."

CWS activity in North Korea dates back to 1996 when basic necessities became extremely scarce there. Christian churches in the U.S. responded through CWS with $4.5 million worth of food aid for North Koreans.

In 2003, McCullough and Dr. Robert Edgar of the National Council of Churches (NCC) led a delegation to North Korea in response to the growing political and humanitarian crisis there. The delegation oversaw the delivery of CWS-donated bread and flour and met with religious and political officials before issuing a six-point statement that included a call for talks on peace and the nuclear issue. (Read the CWS/NCC statement at www.ncccusa.org/news/03nov17koreanstatement.html.)

Other religious leaders who signed the National Religious Partnership on the Nuclear Weapons Danger statement are Rev. Dr. Stan Hastey, executive director, Alliance of Baptists; Bishop Janice Riggle Huie, president, Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church; Rev. Joel C. Hunter, senior pastor, Northland--A Church Distributed (Longwood, FL); Rev. Dr. Clifton Kirkpatrick, stated clerk, Presbyterian Church (USA); Rabbi Gerald Serotta, Temple Shalom (Chevy Chase, MD); Most Reverend Katharine Jefferts Schori, presiding bishop, The Episcopal Church; Rev. Dr. Ronald J. Sider, president, Evangelicals for Social Action; Dr. Glen Stassen, professor of Christian Ethics, Fuller Theological Seminary; Dr. Sayyid M. Syeed, national director, Islamic Society of North America; Rev. Dr. Sharon E. Watkins, general minister and president, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ); Most Rev. Thomas G. Wenski, chairman, Committee on International Policy of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Media Contact: Lesley Crosson, CWS/New York, 212-870-2676; lcrosson@churchworldservice.org