Christian Groups Call for End to Anti-American Sentiment

Some 50,000 members of the Christian Association of Korea and the Christian Leaders Council of Korea held a prayer rally at Seoul City Hall Square at 3:00 p.m. on January 19.

They urged North Korea to stop its nuclear program and called for an end to anti-American sentiment here.

˝Security in Korean peninsula is worsening as North Korea reopens its nuclear program amid the already tense situation sparked by revision of the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA),˝ said the two organizations during the rally. ˝North Korea must stop developing nuclear reactors at once and reinstate its membership in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.˝

˝We are opposing the withdrawal of U.S. troops in Korea, which would be against national interest and security,˝ they appealed.

Meanwhile, some 30 young members of the Christian Association of Korea held a silent demonstration before Deoksu Palace for about 30 minutes in protest against the rally.

Hyo-Lim Son aryssong@donga.com