Seoul's top diplomat asks for Islam world's support for inter-Korean peace

SEOUL, May 29 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha asked the Islamic countries on Tuesday for prayers and support for peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula. She made the remarks in an Iftar meeting with Seoul-based ambassadors from Muslim countries. Iftar is the first evening meal Muslims have at the end of their daily fast during Ramadan, and Seoul's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has hosted the meeting annually since 2004. "Last year at this event, I asked you to pray for peace on the Korean peninsula ... Thanks to your prayers and support, we could lead North Korea back to the negotiation table," Kang said. Calling the two inter-Korean summits this year "historic milestones" for the nuclear-free Korean peninsula, the minister said, "I'd like to ask for your special support and prayers for the divided peninsula to usher in the era of peace and prosperity at this Ramadan period." South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un held a surprise meeting last week at the truce village of Panmunjom to discuss the North's denuclearization in around a month after holding a first summit. graceoh@yna.co.kr (END)