Rev. Moon lauded for efforts to reunify Koreas

It’s just one floral tribute among hundreds here, but the stand of white paper chrysanthemums draped by a ribbon of Korean characters bears some unique political and diplomatic weight. The wreath expresses the condolences of new young North Korean leader Kim Jong-un for the death of Unification Church founder and spiritual guide the Rev. Sun Myung Moon, who devoted much of his life and ministry to seeking an end to the long standoff that has divided the Korean Peninsula for more than 60 years.



Mourners view the body of the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon at the palace in the Cheong Shim Peace World Center in Gapyeong-gun, Korea on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2012. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)



Mourners view the body of the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon at the palace in the Cheong Shim Peace World Center in Gapyeong-gun, Korea on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2012. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)



Mourners walk into the Cheongpyeong Heaven and Earth Training Center, where they are staying, at the Cheong Shim Peace World Center in Gapyeong-gun, Korea for the Rev. Sun Myung Moon's funeral. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)



Mourners walk into the Cheongpyeong Heaven and Earth Training Center, where they are staying, at the Cheong Shim Peace World Center in Gapyeong-gun, Korea for the Rev. Sun Myung Moon's funeral. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)



Bishop Jesse Edwards, left, from Philadelphia, Penn., and Archbishop Augustus Stallings Jr. from Washington, D.C., who are co-presidents of the American Clergy Leadership Conference, both felt it was important to travel to Korea for the funeral of the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)



Bishop Jesse Edwards, left, from Philadelphia, Penn., and Archbishop Augustus Stallings Jr. from Washington, D.C., who are co-presidents of the American Clergy Leadership Conference, both felt it was important to travel to Korea for the funeral of the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)



Emmanuel Milingo, former Archbishop of Zambia, talks to The Washington Times at the Cheong Shim Peace World Center in Gapyeong-gun, Korea on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2012. He is one of thousands in town for the funeral of the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)



Emmanuel Milingo, former Archbishop of Zambia, talks to The Washington Times at the Cheong Shim Peace World Center in Gapyeong-gun, Korea on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2012. He is one of thousands in town for the funeral of the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)



Sang Kwon Park, president of Park Motor Co. and the man in charge of the Moon family's businesses in North Korea, talks with The Washington Times Thursday, Sept. 13, 2012 at the Cheong Shim World Peace Center about the future and outreach towards North Korea. North Korean leader Kim Jung-Un sent flowers following the death of the Rev. Sun Myung Moon. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)



Sang Kwon Park, president of Park Motor Co. and the man in charge of the Moon family's businesses in North Korea, talks with The Washington Times Thursday, Sept. 13, 2012 at the Cheong Shim World Peace Center about the future and outreach towards North Korea. North Korean leader Kim Jung-Un sent flowers following the death of the Rev. Sun Myung Moon. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)

Kone Drissa, who is originally from the Ivory Coast but who now lives in New York, says, "We believe he [Rev. Moon] has done whatever he had to do, and we want to continue honoring him." (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)



Kone Drissa, who is originally from the Ivory Coast but who now lives in New York, says, "We believe he [Rev. Moon] has done whatever he had to do, and we want to continue honoring him." (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)

#6



Volunteers and mourners take a break and rest in a stairway at the Cheong Shim Peace World Center in Gapyeong-gun, Korea on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2012. The complex has been open for days to allow mourners to come pay their respects to the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon, the founder of the Unification Church. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)



Volunteers and mourners take a break and rest in a stairway at the Cheong Shim Peace World Center in Gapyeong-gun, Korea on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2012. The complex has been open for days to allow mourners to come pay their respects to the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon, the founder of the Unification Church. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)



A man takes off his shoes before entering his makeshift dormitory in one of the seminary buildings at the Cheong Shim Peace World Center in Gapyeong-gun, Korea on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2012. Thousands of people are sleeping on the floor in various buildings throughout the complex to be here for the reverend's funeral, which takes place this Saturday. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)



Men hang out in their makeshift dormitory, where they are sleeping on the floor in one of the rooms of the seminary at the Cheong Shim Peace World Center in Gapyeong-gun, Korea on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2012. Thousands of mourners who have come to pay tribute to the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon, the founder of the Unification Church, are sleeping on the floors in various buildings around the complex. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)



Men hang out in their makeshift dormitory, where they are sleeping on the floor in one of the rooms of the seminary at the Cheong Shim Peace World Center in Gapyeong-gun, Korea on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2012. Thousands of mourners who have come to pay tribute to the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon, the founder of the Unification Church, are sleeping on the floors in various buildings around the complex. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)





Men hang out in their makeshift dormitory, where they are sleeping on the floor in one of the rooms of the seminary at the Cheong Shim Peace World Center in Gapyeong-gun, Korea on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2012. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)



Men hang out in their makeshift dormitory, where they are sleeping on the floor in one of the rooms of the seminary at the Cheong Shim Peace World Center in Gapyeong-gun, Korea on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2012. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)





Pablo Iparraguirre from Peru is one of thousands of mourners who have come to the Cheong Shim Peace World Center in Gapyeong-gun, Korea to pay tribute to the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)



Pablo Iparraguirre from Peru is one of thousands of mourners who have come to the Cheong Shim Peace World Center in Gapyeong-gun, Korea to pay tribute to the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)





Women hang out in their makeshift dormitory, where they are sleeping on the floor in one of the rooms of the seminary at the Cheong Shim Peace World Center in Gapyeong-gun, Korea on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2012. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)



Women hang out in their makeshift dormitory, where they are sleeping on the floor in one of the rooms of the seminary at the Cheong Shim Peace World Center in Gapyeong-gun, Korea on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2012. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)

#12



Twenty-year-old August Lindsay looks out the window of his bus while waiting for a ride back to the seminary, where he and about 1,500 Americans are staying on the grounds of the Cheong Shim Peace World Center in Gapyeong-gun, Korea. August says that the Rev. Sun Myung Moon taught him about love and the reason that he himself is alive. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)



Twenty-year-old August Lindsay looks out the window of his bus while waiting for a ride back to the seminary, where he and about 1,500 Americans are staying on the grounds of the Cheong Shim Peace World Center in Gapyeong-gun, Korea. August says that the Rev. Sun Myung Moon taught him about love and the reason that he himself is alive. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)



Eighteen-year-old Marisa Melchiorre came from Massachusetts to attend the funeral of the Rev. Sun Myung Moon in the Cheong Shim Peace World Center in Gapyeong-gun, Korea. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)



Eighteen-year-old Marisa Melchiorre came from Massachusetts to attend the funeral of the Rev. Sun Myung Moon in the Cheong Shim Peace World Center in Gapyeong-gun, Korea. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)



Tom Cutts, a district pastor from Georgia, is among the thousands of mourners who have come to the Cheong Shim Peace World Center in Gapyeong-gun, Korea for the funeral of the Rev. Sun Myung Moon, founder of the Unification Church. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)



Tom Cutts, a district pastor from Georgia, is among the thousands of mourners who have come to the Cheong Shim Peace World Center in Gapyeong-gun, Korea for the funeral of the Rev. Sun Myung Moon, founder of the Unification Church. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)

From left, Shin Bok Moon, Hoon Sook (Julie) Moon and Yeon-Ah Moon, all children of the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon, sit in a room in the palace where their father's body is on display in a glass-covered bier at the Cheong Shim Peace World Center in Gapyeong-gun, Korea on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2012. Mourners were invited to come pay tribute to the reverend and bow to his children. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)



From left, Shin Bok Moon, Hoon Sook (Julie) Moon and Yeon-Ah Moon, all children of the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon, sit in a room in the palace where their father's body is on display in a glass-covered bier at the Cheong Shim Peace World Center in Gapyeong-gun, Korea on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2012. Mourners were invited to come pay tribute to the reverend and bow to his children. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)



A mourner prays while visiting the body of the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon at the Cheong Shim World Peace Center in Gupyeong-gun, Korea on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2012. The official funeral will be held this Saturday. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)



A mourner prays while visiting the body of the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon at the Cheong Shim World Peace Center in Gupyeong-gun, Korea on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2012. The official funeral will be held this Saturday. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)

#17


The body of the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon lies at the palace in the Cheong Shim Peace World Center in Gapyeong-gun, Korea on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2012. Mourners are invited to come pay tribute to the "True Father," offering him prayers and paying respect to his family. His 13-day mourning period culminates on Saturday with an official funeral service. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)



The body of the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon lies at the palace in the Cheong Shim Peace World Center in Gapyeong-gun, Korea on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2012. Mourners are invited to come pay tribute to the "True Father," offering him prayers and paying respect to his family. His 13-day mourning period culminates on Saturday with an official funeral service. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)



This flower arrangement was sent by Kim Jong-Un following the death of Rev. Sun Myung Moon. Although the church asked that no flowers be sent, they have received hundreds of arrangements, which are all on display Cheong Shim Peace World Center in Gapyeong-gun, Korea on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2012. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)



This flower arrangement was sent by Kim Jong-Un following the death of Rev. Sun Myung Moon. Although the church asked that no flowers be sent, they have received hundreds of arrangements, which are all on display Cheong Shim Peace World Center in Gapyeong-gun, Korea on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2012. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)



Tan Sri Dr. Krishnan, president of the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) in Malaysia, which was founded by the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon, told The Washington Times that she had the opportunity to meet Prince William and his wife Kate at an event in Malaysia on Sept. 15, but that she came to Korea to pay tribute to Rev. Moon instead because, as she said, "Prince William is young. I have time to meet him." She spoke with The Washington Times at the Renaissance Hotel in Seoul, Korea on Friday, Sept. 14, 2012. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)



Tan SriDr. Krishnan, president of the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) in Malaysia, which was founded by the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon, told The Washington Times that she had the opportunity to meet Prince William and his wife Kate at an event in Malaysia on Sept. 15, but that she came to Korea to pay tribute to Rev. Moon instead because, as she said, "Prince William is young. I have time to meet him." She spoke with The Washington Times at the Renaissance Hotel in Seoul, Korea on Friday, Sept. 14, 2012. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)



Members of the Universal Peace Federation (UPF), which was founded by the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon, including the Rt. Hon. Gen. M. Masheke of Zambia, talk to The Washington Times about the reverend and his mission for world peace during a meeting at the Renaissance Hotel in Seoul, Korea on Friday, Sept. 14, 2012. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)



Members of the Universal Peace Federation (UPF), which was founded by the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon, including the Rt. Hon. Gen. M. Masheke of Zambia, talk to The Washington Times about the reverend and his mission for world peace during a meeting at the Renaissance Hotel in Seoul, Korea on Friday, Sept. 14, 2012. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)



Members of the Universal Peace Federation (UPF), which was founded by the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon, including the Hon. Peter Lokeris of Uganda, talk to The Washington Times about the reverend and his mission for world peace during a meeting at the Renaissance Hotel in Seoul, Korea on Friday, Sept. 14, 2012. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)



Members of the Universal Peace Federation (UPF), which was founded by the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon, including the Hon. Peter Lokeris of Uganda, talk to The Washington Times about the reverend and his mission for world peace during a meeting at the Renaissance Hotel in Seoul, Korea on Friday, Sept. 14, 2012. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)


Members of the Universal Peace Federation (UPF), which was founded by the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon, including the Ven. Master Dechao Shi of the People's Republic of China, talk to The Washington Times about the reverend and his mission for world peace during a meeting at the Renaissance Hotel in Seoul, Korea on Friday, Sept. 14, 2012. Master Shi, a shaolin kung fu master, was invited to the reverend's funeral by his youngest son, Hyung Jin Moon, whom he met in China. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)



Members of the Universal Peace Federation (UPF), which was founded by the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon, including the Ven. Master Dechao Shi of the People's Republic of China, talk to The Washington Times about the reverend and his mission for world peace during a meeting at the Renaissance Hotel in Seoul, Korea on Friday, Sept. 14, 2012. Master Shi, a shaolin kung fu master, was invited to the reverend's funeral by his youngest son, Hyung Jin Moon, whom he met in China. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)