The 3 times inter-Korean summits are making the probability of the end of the war declaration promising within the year. The UKMA (United Korea Mission Association) sees it an opportunity for them to take part in this historic event. The association set sail in August 2017 through the Mission United Korea forum held on Hawaii led by father Ben Torei and pastor Joseph Jo. 

As the preliminary stage, the association held a conference under the title ‘United Unification Missions on Korean Peninsula’ by inviting 60 experts from the Korea World Missions Association, the Pastor’s Association for North Korea Missions, the Christian Council of North Korea, the Loving Concern International and a number of North Korean mission organizations and unification missionaries. In early September, the association held foundation worship at the Korean Church Centennial Memorial Building.

The association affiliates a number of committees: unification mission research, unification society and culture, unification prayer, unification education, unification pastors, unification mission, unification NGO, unification youth, and unification overseas. 

Kim Jong-kuk, the representative president of the association said the goal of the UKMA is “First of all, we unite for unification mission. Secondly, we prepare for unification mission. Thirdly, we efficiently implement the missions of exchanges, humanitarian assistance and building churches and schools in the North. Fourthly, we carry on the missions alongside our one great goal: spreading the God’s word to the world.”

Followed by the first conference of the UKMA, the association is to hold the second conference next year under the title ‘The Role of Korean Church for Unification’. The association also held a next generation Christian unification leader’s forum on Jeju Island last August under the title ‘Dreaming of Unification through Footprints of History’ and is planning another event, hopefully, in Pyongyang next year. 

One notable event held on October 21, Chu Sang-mi, the director of The Children Gone to Poland, rolled the film and gave a confession. 

Pastor Kim Jong-kuk said “The association will take step by step in fulfilling the God’s plan. Next year, we will publish a unification guide book, hold a diaspora conference, a deported Chinese missionaries forum, and building a unification mission data base. We hope to take part in opening a way for our missionaries to make contributions to unification.” 

Power Korea interviews Kim Jong-kuk and Joseph Jo
Korean English monthly <Power Korea> interviewed the UKMA representative president pastor Kim Jong-kuk and the standing representative pastor Jeseph Jo. 
Baek (editor): The United Korea Mission Association set sail on September 7th and seems to move fast in accordance with the current thawing atmosphere between the North and the South. What is the background and purpose of the association?
Jo: We see that the exchanges in politics, culture and sports between the two Koreas are happening in speed recently. So we thought that we could also play an important role. The Korean churches have many things to do in preparing the coming unification. We have to do this in cooperation with the churches and missionary organizations of the North. 27 Christian organizations gathered together to discuss this at the Mission United Korea forum held on Hawaii last August and we set sail the UKMA at the Korean Church Centennial Memorial Building on September 7th. 
Baek: What consists of the UKMA?
Kim: Many organizations relating to missions in North Korea. The Korea World Missions Association took the leading role to launch the UKMA and it happened before the Inter-Korean Summit taking place. We all think this is the God’s will.
Baek: You (Kim) have engaged in global mission for a long time and inaugurated as the representative president of the association. What do you think is the role and goal of the UKMA?
Kim: I started my mission in Indonesia in 1983 with focus on establishing the visions of the God as well as the role of the Korean church. I think the UKMA is the result of these visions of the God. It is fact that North Korean organizations engaged in mission rather separately in limitation without much fruit. Therefore, the UKMA will play the role to gather these scattered powers through a network that will connect the North Korean organizations and specialists to the churches outside. Korea’s unification indeed is a goal of the UKMA but the ‘root mission’ which will spread the God’s word in North Korea actually is our destination. If unified, the South Korea’s missionary knowhow and the North’s martyrdom of underground churches will create synergy for global evangelization movement.