ASIA/JAPAN - "Peaceful relations between North Korea and neighboring countries": the hope of the Church

Wednesday, 10 April 2013

Tokyo (Agenzia Fides) - Peace is the key word to be pursued by all means, and actions at local and regional level, but also internationally. The support expressed by Pope Francis in talks with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, is therefore important in this period of high political and military tension in the Far East. The Japanese Church "has always promoted peace and non-violence: as Japanese and as Christians, we hope peaceful relations are maintained between North Korea and neighboring countries, including our own," explains to Fides Agency Fr. Daisuke Naru, SVD, Director of Caritas Japan.
If the international media are impressed by the deployment of Patriot missile batteries in central Tokyo, Fr. Naru explains that "the atmosphere in society remains fairly calm. The majority of Japanese people do not think there is a serious threat. In fact, as always, cyclically, when there is tension or a regime change in North Korea, similar threats also to our country arrive. The government, however, shows more attention, and rightly so, in protecting us from any circumstance."
Fr. Naru adds an important detail: "There are many North Koreans living in Japan. During the Second World War they were taken, sometimes forcibly, for work. Today I live in Japan and I am part of the nation. One more reason to avoid any conflict. We pray and hope in always peaceful relations." (PA) (Agenzia Fides 10/04/2013)


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