NORTH KOREA - Living conditions deteriorating
12/04/06 - Christians grateful for spiritual and material food.
Special orders to persecute the church have been given all over North Korea, as the country’s president, Kim Jung Il, the North Korean leader, is particularly worried about Christian influence. He has said that the reason why communism in Europe collapsed was because the Church infiltrated Eastern European communist countries and the former Soviet Union and disarmed their communist mentality.
Kim Jung Il is also concerned that North Korean youth will be exposed to Chinese mass-media and Hallyu (Korean Wave), the ever-growing fever for Korean pop culture. He claims that it will cause a collapse of North Korean society and must be stopped. His January visit to southern China highlights his struggle to break through his country’s economic crisis but Kim Jung Il insists North Korea will not implement a free market economy.
It is evident that the United States’ financial crackdown has struck a serious blow to North Korea, curtailing Kim Jung Il’s financial sources such as arms trade, counterfeit dollars and illegal drug trades. Various public propagandas criticize America and create hostility among North Koreans against America. They claim the U. S. is trying to isolate and destroy them and is responsible for their economic crisis.
North Korean church leaders have expressed their deep gratitude to Open Doors for aid supplied during the winter.
Eddie Lyle, CEO, Open Doors UK & Ireland, said, “Many North Korean people suffer from harsh living conditions and little food, but Christians suffer particularly, needing to keep their faith a complete secret. If discovered they face imprisonment, brutal conditions in labour camp and even death. It is vital that people inform themselves and pray for this country, which is why Open Doors have launched a 7 day prayer and information guide, available on our web-site to help Christians understand the situation in this most restrictive of countries."
North Korean Border Crossings
In continuing heavy policing of the border, everyone caught crossing is either killed or imprisoned in political offence concentration camps. However, all public executions have been prohibited since a video clip of a public execution, secretly taken in Hweryeong, Ham Gyeong Buk-do, was sent out to Japan and the Western world. The arrested are now poisoned to death by drugs or injections.
The number of border violations has decreased, but it never stops. Christians hungry for God’s Word continue crossing the border for better Bible training. Barbed-wire fences are installed on both sides of the border -- double layered on the North Korean side -- but people keep crossing the line by all means -- either legal or illegal.
North Korean border crossers also face danger in China. The Chinese police often arrest or kidnap Korean-Chinese pastors and missionaries, interrogate them illegally and even torture them to gain information on those helping North Koreans to cross the border.
Open Doors has opened two more shelters and training centres to help believers who have crossed the border at such great risk and are desperate for spiritual nourishment.
North Korean Church Today
North Korean church leaders are sending many letters of thanks for Open Doors’ help during the winter. Most of all, they are grateful for the commentary Bibles which they received as Christmas gifts. With these Bibles, they can develop deeper and more systematic Bible study, a great joy for them.
In 2006, Open Doors will expand its ministry to aid the believers inside North Korea. The need for medical supplies is constant, and Open Doors is sending medicines and materials for the old and sick.
Recently, distribution of Biblical materials has been stopped. With the increase of goods entering North Korea, leaders are having difficulty storing and transporting them.
Workers said, “God always opens the doors for every possible ministry, protects his workers, and closely works out crises into opportunities for further expansion of His ministry. Man is unable to see a step ahead, but the God of mercy leads and works with us in every way. He is our hope and our key to victories in the North Korean mission field. We ask for your continuous and special prayers over us.”
Open Doors UK & Ireland, Tel 01993 885400, www.opendoorsuk.org e-mail info@opendoorsuk.org
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For other articles/press releases on the Persecuted Church, go to: http://www.opendoorsuk.org.uk/press/articles/ http://www.opendoorsuk.org.uk/press/releases/ http://www.opendoorsuk.org/media_photos/world_watch_list_pics/html/index.htm
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