New cardinal highlights peace on Korean Peninsula

Cardinal Yeom Soo-jeong who is staying in Rome after a formal installation said Monday that he will visit Kaeseong Complex in North Korea to re-promote a mass praying for the peace and reconciliation on the Korean Peninsula.

Yeom, archbishop of Seoul who is also serving as acting premier of Archdiocese of Pyongyang, said at a press conference at Korean theological seminary in Rome, "Last year, I was promoting a visiting mass in Kaeseong Complex after an approval from the South and North Korean governments, but was postponed after Jang Song Thaek was brought down from post." On mission work in the North, he said, "(North Korea) seems to feel fear that gospel preaching will send the nation to doom. The purpose of the gospel is not to send the nation to doom. Rather, it is to make people trust and love each other, and to live in peace."

When asked questions on Pope Francisco`s interest on the Korean Peninsula and his role, the new Cardinal said, "The Pope said he will pray especially for North Korea. Both Koreas where the scars of war remain should endeavor to make our society that human dignity is sacred. Peace and reconciliation is the fundamental message of the Pope."