'The Word War Should Not Be On Our Lips'

 

On the 5th, North Korea launched a ballistic missile into the East Sea. Also, missiles were fired on the 11th, 14th, and 17th, drawing great attention to the security issue on the Korean Peninsula. In particular, the missiles launched on the 5th and 11th are estimated to be hyper-sonic missiles. This begins the column in the Catholic Peace Weekly by a priest.
 
Presidential candidates also took a stand against it. An opposition party's candidate said: "We must put pressure on North Korea through global diplomacy and stop North Korea's nuclear advancement. There is no way to stop it except with a pre-emptive strike."
 
Nevertheless, as a presidential candidate, there is controversy over the use of the term pre-emptive strike, a concept of a quasi-wartime operation. In fact, the issue of North Korea has always been at the center of controversy in past presidential elections.
 
Various solutions were presented, ranging from the position that North Korea should be made to change  behavior through strong economic sanctions, to the position that the problem should be resolved through patience and dialogue. However, what must be premised on various solutions is that there should be no more armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula.
 
Most wars in history start with the decisions of middle-aged men, but  most victims are the weakest: women, the elderly, and children. Moreover, modern warfare is a weapon system with unimaginable destructive power, and even a victor has a possibility of meaningless annihilation.
 
If it is possible to lower the security crisis on the Korean Peninsula with the remarks of a pre-emptive strike, what kind of remarks as a presidential candidate will have any problem? However, rather than being directed at North Korea, we cannot help but worry because it makes us think of war as an option.
 
The temptation to resolve conflicts by force easily arise within us. However, there should be no armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula under any circumstances. Jesus also said, "You have heard it said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth'. But I tell you Do not face the wicked. Rather if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn the other cheek as well" (Matthew 5:38-39). India's wise man Mahatma Gandhi also said in response to this: "If we live with 'Eye for an eye' the whole world will be blind."
 
I hope our Christians overcome the temptation to solve problems with force in their daily lives and realize true peace can only be made peacefully.