S. Korea's Catholic Church prays for inter-Korean summit's success

SEOUL, April 16 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's Catholic Church on Monday issued a statement calling for the upcoming historic inter-Korean summit to bring an end to confrontation and conflict on the Korean Peninsula. The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea (CBCK) issued a statement of support for the scheduled April 27 summit between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong-un, the North's leader. The two sides are expected to discuss ways to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula, establish lasting peace and improve inter-Korean relations. "There is a growing expectation that an age of new peace will come after the long confrontation and conflict of 65 years," the CBCK said. The conference also said the summit "is a valuable opportunity that God has given our people." The church asked Catholics to "pray together to establish a permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula." The Moon-Kim meeting at the truce village of Panmunjom will mark the third inter-Korean summit following the top-level meetings held in 2000 and 2007. The talks will be followed by an unprecedented U.S.-North Korea summit likely to be held either in May or June. odissy@yna.co.kr (END)