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North Korea

• Persecution & Prayer Alert

  

  
  "O come, Thou 'Rod of Jesse' [the Messiah],
  Free Thine own from Satan's tyranny;
  From depths of hell Thy people save,
  And give them victory o'er the grave."
  ~ These lyrics, based on Isaiah 11:1-5, are from the hymn,
  "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel."
  Translated from Latin by John Mason Neale
  
  

  For many who receive the weekly "Persecution & Prayer Alerts," Christmastime brings to mind the imagery of joyful family celebrations, the enjoyment of peaceful carol music and, most importantly, the celebration of God's gift to humanity, as expressed through the birth of His Son Jesus. It's a season involving Christmas pageants, festive lights, gift-giving, and meaningful worship services of celebration. While the specific traditions may vary among individual families and churches, the primary purpose remains the same for all believers: to remember and celebrate the arrival of the "Promised Messiah."

• Court Ruling Permits Balloon Launches

  

  Since 2005, The Voice of the Martyrs Korea VOMK has used large balloons to carry Bibles and Scripture pamphlets into the restricted nation of North Korea. However, in 2020, the South Korean government passed a law criminalizing the use of balloons after negotiations with the North Korean government. (See this report for more details on the restriction.)

• Balloon Launches Officially Banned

  

  Since 2005, The Voice of the Martyrs Korea (VOMK) has used balloon launches as an effective way of getting Bibles into North Korea. Recent surveys indicate that an increasing percentage of North Korean defectors have also been given access to the Scriptures. Many of those Bibles may well have come through VOMK, whose distribution outreaches sent approximately 600,000 Bibles into the country over the years. It has been the only major organization supplying religious materials across the border.

• Bible Launches Met with Resistance

  

  For several years, The Voice of the Martyrs Korea has helped get Bibles into North Korea. Typically, this was done through the launch of large balloons, which would strategically drop the contained materials across the border. Recently, members of the ministry team have also begun using bottles filled with rice, vitamins and small Bibles to bless those residing in North Korea. These bottles were systematically sent while the timing of the tide was just right so they would float along the western coast to their intended destination.

• Bible Used to Track Defectors

  

  In an attempt to monitor defectors, North Korean secret police agents have been studying the Bible. The purpose is for them to be able to gain rapport and trust with defectors in China and South Korea. In so doing, they hope to gain information on the whereabouts of other defectors, as well as ways to track and monitor them.

• Prisoners Released Amidst Peace Talks
  
  Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone

  Three American prisoners were officially released from custody in North Korea on May 9th in a move widely viewed as a goodwill gesture ahead of a summit between the leaders of the United States and North Korea. The three men -- Kim Hak-song, Kim Dong-chul and Tony Kim -- were all being held in labour camps on charges of anti-state activities. They are all Christians who had been involved with various ministries in North Korea. The three had been transferred to a hotel earlier this month.

• Introduced to God During Interrogation
  
  Photo: Flickr / Roman Harak (cc)

  "Kyung-ja" first heard of God while suffering in a North Korean prison. Prior to her incarceration, she had escaped North Korea in an attempt to earn money in China for her starving family back home. When Kyung-ja returned, however, she was arrested. According to Todd Nettleton of VOM USA, while being interrogated, she was repeatedly asked unexpected questions: "Did people in China talk to you about God? Did you meet with people who are followers of God? Did you read the book about God while you were in China?" For Kyung-ja, this topic was completely new, as she had never before heard of God.

  After facing interrogation, Kyung-ja was transferred to a labour camp. Intrigued by the interrogator's questions, she asked a fellow prisoner about God. This prisoner affirmed that there was a God but was too afraid to talk about Him in the camp. Even so, a seed had been planted in Kyung-ja's heart.

• Freed Pastor Welcomed Home with Joy!

  
  Pastor Lim addresses his congregation after arriving safely in Canada.
  Photo: World Watch Monitor

  The large congregation of Light Korean Presbyterian Church in Mississauga, Canada, was ecstatic on Sunday, August 13th, when welcoming home their senior pastor, Hyeon Soo Lim, who was held for more than two years of a life sentence as a prisoner at a North Korean labour camp. The church was also crowded with media personnel recording his significant and almost unexpected return.

• Shortwave Broadcasts Reaching Multitudes

  
  North Korean defectors share
  the Gospel in the North Korean
  dialect via radio waves.

  A shortwave radio program created by North Korean defectors in partnership with VOM is reaching an estimated two million North Koreans nightly. Each 90-minute program includes a Scripture reading, encouraging messages from Christians around the world, and readings from Pastor Richard Wurmbrand's testimonial book, Tortured for Christ. Although largely isolated from their worldwide Christian family, North Korean believers now have access to God's Word and an indirect connection to other followers of Christ.

• Detained Canadian Pastor Hospitalized

  
  Hyeon was sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labour.

  A Canadian pastor, who was arrested in North Korea last year for allegedly plotting to overthrow the state, is presently hospitalized because of poor health. According to Canadian diplomats, Hyeon Soo Lim has been receiving treatment in the hospital since August.

  Hyeon, a pastor of Light Presbyterian Church in Toronto, had gone missing in January 2015. The following month, news of his arrest broke out, reporting that North Korean officials accused him of committing crimes against the state. In August 2015, North Korean state news released a video of Hyeon confessing to the alleged crimes. However, those monitoring persecution noticed that he appeared to be reading from a script, raising suspicions that the pastor had been coerced into confessing the crimes.

  In December of that same year, after a brief trial, Hyeon was sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labour. The pastor is in his 60s, and many people -- including his family -- expressed concerns over his health.

  For almost 20 years, Hyeon has been involved in humanitarian work in North Korea, where he helped establish orphanages and nursing homes. By the time of his arrest, he had travelled to the country more than a hundred times. During an interview with CNN in January, Hyeon said he was required to work eight hours a day, six days a week, in the labour camp. He dug holes for the planting of apple trees. "I hope I can go home someday," Hyeon added. "Nobody knows if I will ever go home, but that is my hope. I miss my family. I am longing to see them again, and my congregation."

  Please pray for Pastor Hyeon during his time of need. Ask the Lord not only to heal him physically, but to also comfort him in his longing to be with family. May he be released from imprisonment at the labour camp so he can return safely home -- whole in both body and spirit. Intercede for Pastor Hyeon's captors that they may come to know Christ through his testimony, and thus receive the assurance of God's salvation and promise of eternity.