On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the conclusion of the armistice agreement on July 27, 1953, the CBCK Committee for the Reconciliation of the Korean People (President: Most Rev. Peter Lee Ki-heon, Bishop of Uijeongbu) announced and has carried out its special plans for the months of June, July, and August, 2013, and urged the faithful to pray for the reconciliation and unity of the Korean people.

Despite the armistice agreement the Korean peninsula is still de facto in a state of war, because the peace treaty has yet to be concluded. The committee said that the events were prepared for the faithful to be stepping-stones for the peace of the Korean peninsula.

In this regard, the committee first of all initiated a chain of prayer throughout the whole month of June, 2013. The chain of prayer was to invoke the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary for peace on the Korean peninsula. It began in Seoul on June 1, 2013 and ended in Wonju on June 30, 2013.

On June 25, 2013, on the occasion of the 63th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War, the committee celebrated a Mass for the peace of the Korean peninsula.

On June 28, 2013, the committee held a symposium with the theme “Peace on the Korean Peninsula, How should we build it?” The committee will also initiate an event to march through the “DMZ Peace Route” from July 26 to August 1, 2013.

All the events are meant to: announce that we need true peace, not an insecure state of cease-fire which has been maintained for the last 60 years; reignite the passion of the faithful for the reconciliation and unity of the Korean people along with the peace on the Korean peninsula; prepare for the evangelization of North Korea; help the faithful become the apostles of peace.