Church leaders from North and South Korea have stressed the importance of dialogue between the two countries’ Christians for brokering peace.

At a conference last week, church leaders from both nations agreed that a new peace treaty must be drawn up to replace the “insufficient” Armistice Agreement of 1953.

The International Ecumenical Conference on a Peace Treaty for the Korean Peninsula was organised by the World Council of Churches.

A post-conference communiqué stressed the need for a constructive agreement to halt militarisation and mutual hostility.

Christian dialogue and coordination were advocated as important tools in achieving that goal. The World Council of Churches said it plans on-going initiatives to advance the peace process.