President Lee Myung-bak on Tuesday expressed hope for religious freedom in North Korea, saying it would contribute to social cohesion when the two divided states are unified in the future, the presidential spokeswoman said.
Lee made the remark at a meeting with French Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue at the Vatican, praising his efforts to promote dialogue between different religions.
Tauran arrived Monday for a five-day trip that includes a visit to the headquarters of South Korea's largest Buddhist sect, the Jogye Order, and a meeting with the representatives of seven religions practiced in South Korea.
"If religion is allowed in North Korea, I think it will be greatly helpful in promoting social unity after unification," Lee said during the meeting with Tauran, according to presidential spokeswoman Kim Hee-jung.
Lee also cited German officials as saying during his visit to Berlin earlier this month that religion contributed to social cohesion in the unified Germany, the spokeswoman said.
Tauran said that unification is an important issue for a divided nation, and that unification should be achieved through friendship, cultural exchange and religion, according to Kim.
Lee said that religions in South Korea maintain peace as they respect each other, and Tauran added that the country is an exemplary case of peace among religions.
North Korea allows no religious freedom. Last month, an independent U.S. government commission designated the communist nation as one of the 14 worst countries for religious freedom, saying, "(Pyongyang) controls nearly every aspect of its citizens' daily lives, including religious activity."