Catholics want no repeat of Robert Park’s antics

SEOUL (UCAN) — Pyongyang’s decision to reportedly “forgive and release” American Christian activist Robert Park may be a sign of more flexibility in North Korea, some observers in Seoul say.

Korea Central News Agency (KCNA), said today [Feb. 5] that the authorities had relented after Park “admitted his mistake.” It gave no timing for his release.

“North Korea’s attitude toward this kind of religious affair seems more open and flexible,” James Byun Jin-heung, a member of the Seoul archdiocese’s  Korea Reconciliation Committee, said.

Park, a Protestant, marched across the border on Christmas Eve brandishing the Bible and shouting: “I brought God’s love! God loves you!” He was arrested immediately.

Most South Korean Church leaders condemned the Korean-American’s actions as doing more harm than good for relations between the Churches and the repressive state.

“For better relations with North Korea, provocative actions like Robert Park’s must never happen again,” Byun said.

Father John Park Chang-il, the director of Corea Peace 3000, a humanitarian aid organization for North Korea, told UCA News that the North Korean authorities may believe that there was no benefit to holding him any longer.

“It is good that North Korea decided to release him without any condition, although his provocative action may have hurt the country and its people,” the priest said.

Reverend Lee Soo-bong, secretary general of the Christian Mission for North Korea, sees Park’s release in a less positive light.

“It does not mean that North Korea enjoys religious freedom and human rights. I don’t believe it,” he said.

“We can confirm the real intentions … after Park is actually released.”

Suh Suk-koo, a Catholic lawyer who has worked with Robert Park on human rights issues in North Korea, told UCA News he was glad Park will be released apparently unhurt.

“I worried so much because it was reported that he was beaten severely by soldiers when he entered the communist country,” he said.

“North Korea could not treat him violently because it knows lots of eyes from all over the world are looking at Park.”

KO08739.1587 February 5, 2010 27 EM-lines (292 words)

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