The treacherous life of north korea's followers of jesus april 2009
The following article is written by our friend who has cultivated a relationship with the Gospel workers serving the North Korean believers within their country, as well as among the refugees who have escaped into China. Donations to the two projects set forth here will be sent in full to meet the needs of the North Korean pastors.
.......The North Korean Communist regime’s persecution of Christians is the most severe of any country in the world. Freedom of religion or religious thought does not exist. Anyone caught with a Bible is sentenced to 15 years or more in prison. The average life expectancy there is only about three years, making going to prison equivalent to a mandatory death sentence. Witnesses have testified seeing believers tortured and killed in prison. In some cases, the methods used by prison guards is to pour molten iron on their heads. Even people from Christian backgrounds (going back three generations) are persecuted just because Christianity is in their family tree. They cannot work for the government, have limited education possibilities, and in some cases, cannot even marry unless the government approves.
....In addition to religious persecution, there is no tolerance toward political dissents. Any word spoken against the government or the country's dictator, Kim Jong Il, is considered an act of treason, carrying with it an automatic prison sentence. There are no human rights. Even family members will turn in one another if they hear anti-loyal statements for fear that, not only the guilty one will be sent away, but the rest of the family and extended family, as well.
In the early 1990's, there were an estimated 30,000 believers within North Korea. Then came the famine in 1995 which lasted a decade, during which time an estimated three million of North Korea's 23 million people died of starvation. It is assumed that five million people fled and crossed the border into China. There, brave Chinese Christians from the underground church working along the border, sought them out, provided food and shelter, and along with it, the Gospel message. Many have returned and worship in secret. Today, even under these harsh conditions, the number of believers is growing and thought to be close to half a million.
