It is strange to think that Kim Jong-il himself lives in luxury and drinks the most expensive cognac, while his people become more and more impoverished. Yet they worship him as if he were a god who could save them from all their problems. They live on a lie that has been repeated to them for more than 50 years. It is horrifying to listen to accounts of people who have defied his system or made a small mistake and have been sent to prison camps where they have been tortured and tormented, while the leader sits in his palace and indulges his passion for movies. It is said that he is in possession of some 20,000 video films. It seems absurd to most people.
North Korea is so closed that it seems possible to keep most of the population in an iron grip. Only very few get out of the country. Those who do can report a country of unimaginable oppression and hunger.
I will never forget my conversation with a woman who had experienced the suffering first hand. She spoke in detail about how she had been imprisoned in a small cell in North Korea along with many other prisoners. The prisoners had to sit in the same position for many hours like animals without dignity. But after much pain, this woman managed to escape from North Korea to South Korea, where I spoke to her. Her life was getting better, but I remember that back in 2004 she would not forgive those who had wronged her. I hope for her sake that one day she will choose forgiveness, even though humanly speaking it is probably impossible.
In recent times, North Korea has once again shown its military muscle by detonating bombs to the horror of the surrounding world. The attention is naturally focused on the power that North Korea possesses as a nuclear power and thus a potential threat to the rest of the world. There is a natural fear in South Korea and Japan about whether North Korea will use their weapons against them. But it is frustrating in this situation to realize that while the world's attention is focused on North Korea's military might, there are still people dying in their prison camps. Their voices cannot be heard in the mainstream media. That's why it's important to raise awareness of North Korea's gross oppression of people, that there is no freedom of religion in North Korea, that thousands of Christians are imprisoned and regarded as remotes by the state.
For several years, the Danish European Mission has helped hundreds of refugees find shelter and other support among Christians in China. Right now, the Danish European Mission is working to help children who have been left behind because their mothers have been captured in China and sent back to North Korea.
North Korea may be on the verge of collapse. This is happening while human rights are being grossly violated and the conditions for Christians in the country are highly criticizable. People who disagree with the regime are collapsing in prison camps due to starvation and torture. We must not forget them in all the publicity that the tests have received.
Please remember the persecuted Christians in North Korea in your prayers.
