Kim Jong Eun Sends Condolences to Moon Family

2012.09.08 11:05

< Workers on Wednesday prepared for the funeral for Rev. Moon Sun-myung at the Cheong Shim Peace World Center in Gapyeong. >

North Korean state media on Wednesday conveyed condolences from Kim Jong Eun to the family of Rev. Moon Sun-myung, the leader of the Unification Church, who died on Monday.

A statement attributed to Mr. Kim said: “I express my deep condolences to widow Han Hak Ja and the bereaved family upon receiving the sad news that Moon Sun Myung, president of the World Peace Federation, died of illness. Though he passed away, his efforts and feats made for the reconciliation and unity of the nation, the reunification of the country and the world peace will last forever.”

Mr. Moon was a staunch anti-communist but, in 1991, traveled to North Korea and met Mr. Kim’s grandfather, Kim Il Sung.

In his 2010 autobiography, Mr. Moon devoted three chapters (all the chapters are brief, about 5 to 10 pages) to his trip, which was significant to him because he was born in a village north of Pyongyang before the Korean peninsula was divided.

He said he spoke about reuniting divided Korean families, nuclear weapons, favorite foods, hunting and fishing with Mr. Kim. When he left, he said he told Kim Il Sung, “You are older than I, so you are like my older brother.” And Mr. Kim responded, according to Mr. Moon, “From now on, let’s refer to each other as older brother and younger brother.”

There was no indication in the condolence report whether North Korea will attempt to send a delegation to South Korea during Mr. Moon’s memorial visitation, which begins Thursday and lasts for a week. Mr. Moon sent a group to represent him for Kim Il Sung’s funeral in 1994 and for Kim Jong Il’s funeral last year.

The Unification Church on Tuesday released a list of 61 current and former world leaders who are expected to attend the memorial.

(기사원문링크)