Authorities step up surveillance of church activity

Posted: April 01, 2009 Open Doors USA

Open Doors USA, a branch of a worldwide Christian ministry to the persecuted church, says North Korea's plan to launch a missile as soon as the next few days is taking a huge toll on Christians in the isolatedcommunist dictatorship. 

The nation run by Kim Jong-Il, considered a "god" within his country, has announced to the international community it will launch a satellite into orbit sometime between Saturday and next Wednesday.

International fears are that the launch is a test of an intercontinental ballistic missile that could contain a nuclear warhead.

According to the New York Times, the government's radio broadcasts also have threatened to shoot down "spy planes" sent into the air by other nations to monitor its actions.

The U.S., South Korea and Japan all have confirmed that North Korea's actions would be a violation of a 2006 United Nations resolution banning Pyongyang from ballistic missile tests.

While the threats from North Korea have left the international community unsettled, Open Doors explains that the heaviest toll is on those inside North Korea, especially Christians, whose faith is generally illegal and sometimes punished to the third generation.

"According to a recent Open Doors report from the field, a warlike buildup by the government is a nightmare for most North Korean citizens," the organization said today. "Officials have ordered citizens to gather 15 days worth of war provisions. Even young students are being forced to transport ammunition boxes."

The organization, in a statement released by spokesman Jerry Dykstra, described the "favor" granted by North Korea's "great leader" in February to citizens – a special ration of corn and rice.

"But the lives of these residents are getting worse. The crisis in the world's economy has reached North Korea. The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. A small number of the governing class are purchasing foreign goods from China. Their houses are full of rare, expensive goods from overseas, according to the report. Meanwhile, people are dying from starvation," the group said.

Open Doors for seven years in a row has listed North Korea as the No. 1 persecutor of Christians in the world, even ahead of Saudi Arabia and Iran. And just days ago Pyongyang was re-designated by the U.S. State Department as a nation "of particular concern" for its violations of religious freedoms.

However, not all is bad news.

"North Korean church leaders have started a prayer campaign for evangelization inside North Korea," Open Doors reported.

"The North Korean society is extremely unstable. Believers see this as an opportunity to develop and reinforce their church organization. They are becoming more united, even though the situation for believers has worsened. North Korean authorities have stepped up their measures for exposing all underground church members by increasing surveillance of Christians."

Open Doors recommended people in free nations around the world can join in the battle for North Korea by participating in North Korea Freedom Week, April 26-May 2, which was developed by 60 organizations, including Open Doors.

The campaign is set up to raise awareness to the plight of North Koreans and the human rights and religious rights abuses there.

Open Doors estimates 100 million Christians worldwide suffer interrogation, arrest and even death for their faith in Christ, with millions more facing discrimination and alienation.

Detailed information from inside North Korea is hard to obtain, but it was reported on the escape of a North Korean man who said many in his country believe Kim Jong-Il actually is a god.

The Christian, now living in South Korea, was identified only as Mr. Kim. He told Voice of the Martyrs that Kim Jong-Il, and his late father Kim Il Sung, both are portrayed as gods.

"All North Koreans really believe that Kim Il Sung is a god. He [hid] the bad things he had done, to preserve his godlike status to the people. I think 70 to 80 percent of what is said about Kim Il-Sung is similar to the Bible," he told the ministry.

Anecdotal evidence about the nation's persecution is available. For example, Camp 22, the nation's largest concentration camp, can hold up to 50,000 men, women and children accused of political "crimes," while reports of atrocities such as the rampant murder of babies born to inmates are supported by witnesses.

Meanwhile, Reuters reports, "No one enjoys luxury goods more than paramount leader Kim Jong-Il, who boasts the country's finest wine cellar with space for 10,000 bottles. … His annual purchases of Hennessy cognac reportedly total to $700,000, while the average North Korean earns the rough estimate equivalent of $900 per year."

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