In the summer of 2012, Korea was hit by a series of severe storms with heavy rain and flooding in early July. In August, two typhoons, Bolaven and Tembin, hit the western part of the Korean peninsula very close together. They hit both North and South Korea and caused particularly severe damage to the old and fragile houses and infrastructure in North Korea. A report from the BBC stated: "In North Korea, there are reports of damage to crops and power pylons around the city of Haeju".
In reality, all indications are that the extent of the damage affecting ordinary citizens in areas on the west coast of North Korea was far greater than the BBC's announcement suggested. Helping Hand Korea partners said that the combination of flooding and typhoons hit particularly hard in some of the western provinces of North Korea, where large numbers of underground Christians live. The partners described how flooding and landslides have led to the collapse of approximately 6000 houses in the area. There are also reports of broken and twisted train tracks due to falling rocks from widespread landslides in the very mountainous region. It was particularly worrying to hear that when government officials finally arrived to survey the damage in the flooded and typhoon-affected areas, they concentrated solely on repairing and rebuilding government buildings, while ordinary citizens were left to fend for themselves in the aftermath of the severe weather.
Transportation through secret channels
In light of the very serious situation that the population as a whole now faces, it is clear that the underground church has also had to go through a lot of suffering. Therefore, the Danish European Mission's increased donations this year have come at both a well-chosen and favorable time. The existing program provides much needed medicine for the many illnesses and ailments of our brothers and sisters, especially the elderly. The agreement that the Danish European Mission has made with HHK to also provide food and clothing could not have come at a better time. Especially now that the winter cold has arrived in Korea with temperatures below freezing, we make sure to buy warm winter clothes at a cheap price in China and have them transported through secret channels to the believers living in hiding.
Similarly, because North Korea's 2012 harvest suffered severe damage during the floods and typhoons, the new agreement between the Danish European Mission and HHK to provide food that is both cheap and nutritious, such as grain products, will certainly be a welcome answer to the prayers sent up by our brothers in the house churches after they were hit hard by the severe weather in the western part of North Korea.
Aid strengthens Christians in North Korea
While we would love to be able to share more detail about the methods we use to procure, transport and distribute aid to the secret believers inside North Korea, it would seriously breach the incredibly important safeguards against government surveillance and tracking. That said, North Korean Christian leaders have managed to send a message through their secret channels. In it, they express their deep and heartfelt gratitude to their brothers and sisters thousands of kilometers away in Europe for coming to their aid in their desperate need. We at HHK join with a heartfelt "Amen!" to the thanks expressed by our brothers and sisters in the north. May your New Year be filled with a special joy knowing that you are helping to strengthen the Body of Christ in North Korea. These actions driven by love and compassion will resonate forever!
