U.S. priest sees hopeful signs for eventual reunification of Korea

Published: 2007-10-03

MARYKNOLL, N.Y. (CNS) -- Subtle changes in attitude are more important than signed documents when it comes to measuring progress in relationships with the North Koreans, according to a U.S. priest who has visited North Korea more than two dozen times since 1995. Maryknoll Father Gerard Hammond, a missioner in South Korea since 1960, has served in many capacities, including as personal envoy of Cardinal Nicholas Cheong Jinsuk, who is the archbishop of Seoul, South Korea, and apostolic administrator of the Pyongyang Diocese in North Korea. The priest also is the director of the Seoul archdiocesan National Reconciliation Center, chairman of the North Korean branch of Caritas International, a Catholic aid agency, and a trustee of the Eugene Bell Foundation, a Protestant charity that works in North Korea. Father Hammond first visited North Korea to bring aid after devastating floods there. In the 12 years since then, he said, there has been an improvement in "dialogue, attitude and trust on both sides. I speak Korean and I'm accepted. If I wasn't, I couldn't go there." Father Hammond, 74, said his age is an advantage and "they would consider me, in many ways, a Korean."

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