North Korea: Thousands of Christians in prison camps

Last Saturday was the 60th anniversary of the end of the Korean War and CSW used the date to highlight the plight of at least 200,000 Christians and other inmates detained in five political prison camps across North Korea. Previously Christian aid and advocacy group Open Doors suggested that the real number of prisoners in dozens of facilities resembling concentration camps may be as high as over one million. ‘Christians are particularly targeted for their faith.’ said CSW. ‘The camps are complete villages.’ said Open Doors.Yet, despite the threat of detention and even execution thousands of Christians continue to worship in secret, rights investigators say. Recently Amnesty International called the North Korean leader Kim Jong-il to - acknowledge the existence of political prison camps in North Korea - immediately close all these camps, unconditionally release prisoners of conscience (relatives held on the basis of ‘guilt-by-association’) and release all others unless they are charged with an internationally recognizable offence.

Pray: for an end to the barbaric torture, inhumane living conditions and unjust regime and for God to continue to minister powerfully to our brothers and sisters living in unimaginable conditions. (Ps.7:6-9)

More: http://www.bosnewslife.com/29624-thousands-of-christians-in-north-korea-prison-camps-on-60th-anniversary-of-armistice

South Korea suspects North Korea to be behind cyber-attacks on computer networks at two major banks and three top TV broadcasters which went into shutdown on Wednesday. Also this week North Korea produced another video showing the United States under attack. The White House and Washington featured in a four-minute video titled ‘Firestorms will rain on the Headquarters of War’ posted on the YouTube channel of North Korea's official website from the state media. The video portrays the United States as a bullying nuclear power intent on bending Pyongyang to its will. ‘Second by second, the fuse of a nuclear war is burning,’ a female narrator warned. ‘There is no limit to the range of our strategic rockets,’ the narrator said. Meanwhile crimes against humanity are committed daily. 200,000 men, women and children are held in prison camps. Religious persecution is boundless. Christianity is ‘public enemy number one’.

Pray: for an end to violent religious oppression, threats of pre-emptive nuclear strikes and continued tensions on the Korean peninsula. (Job20:4-6 &1Ch.17:9)

More: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/

Several hundred South Korean church leaders, along with international intercessors and prayer leaders, will gather near the DMZ, the border between North and South Korea, to pray for the Lord's deliverance and transformation of North Korea, probably the most oppressive and evil situation on earth - Prayer Initiative for North Korea, September 18-22. The link below shows a just completed prayer video on North Korea that will be used in conjunction with PINK. This hard-hitting, heart-stirring video was produced by Ken An and SohMyoung Lee, Korean film producers with the Pan Pacific Film Festival in Los Angeles. Please see it, let your heart be broken, and pray fervently for the liberation of North Korea and reintegration with its southern sister of South Korea. Share the video with intercessors and prayer leaders you are in touch with.

Pray: for His anointing, guidance and unity in the Spirit for this crucial initiative. May we all have God’s heart for North Korea. (Jer.29:11)

More: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hv6E2ReEbGI&feature=youtu.be

Death camps as in World War II are happening right now in North Korea. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea runs a network of concentration camps where an estimated 1 million innocents have been murdered in silence and 250,000 political prisoners, one-third of them children, are currently being forced to perform slave labour on starvation rations. They are subject to systematic rape and torture, biological and chemical weapon experimentation, and summary execution. Many of them are our brothers and sisters in Christ. To follow the Lord can be a death sentence outright or you could have three generations of your family sentenced to such atrocities in the camps. Dr. Norbert Vollertsen witnessed first-hand the genocidal policies of the regime and spoke recently to the US Commission on International Religious Freedom. To read a transcript of his talk click the 'More' link or watch a video message he gave to the South Korea press at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2J-qJ1CqN4'

Pray: that Kim Jong-un would listen to the international human rights demands and liberate prisoners from Political Concentration Camps; pray also for the safety of every North Korean individual regardless of religion or political beliefs. (Ps.92:89)

More: http://www.uscirf.gov/countries/1809.html?task=view

Ten days ago workers on a boat off the coast of North Korea launched helium-filled scripture balloons that floated over the country declaring God's truth and promises. Coincidently as the workers prepared to leave the area Kim Jong Il died of a heart attack We can pray that as the word of God was lifted high over the dark land of North Korea His spirit would now cover and pierce the darkness over and in the land. While the world speculates about the future of North Korea, may we continue to intercede for those who face brutal persecution, imprisoned in labour ‘death’ camps and subjected to starvation and torture. Sister Yang was tortured for a month after being suspected of being a Christian. A woman sitting near Sister Yang had overheard her praying quietly and reported her to the authorities.‘They beat me with a shovel,’ Sister Yang told Voice of the Martyers, ‘Eventually my whole body had turned blue.’

Pray: for many in North Korea to know about Jesus Christ. Pray also for missionaries to continue to be protected as they bring His light to the darkest of places. (Ps.5:11-12)

More: http://etools.vomusa.org/a/vomso/bg_vomso_wdbm-20111220-YearEnd_443.html

In recent weeks the communist state has issued a series of threats against both South Korean and US targets, to which the US has responded with high-profile movements of advanced aircraft and warships around the Korean peninsula. (See Prayer Alert 12-2013) Most people believe North Korea does not want all-out war, even though they intend restarting facilities at its Yongbyon nuclear complex. The move came a day after Pyongyang announced a ‘new strategic line focusing on its nuclear programme and economy.' Life in North Korea is famine ravaged. A man in South Hwanghaewas killed by firing squad after it was learned he had eaten his two children, the Sunday Times reported recently. North Korea would neither confirm nor deny the account of the execution but it is not the first time that the communist regime is believed to have punished residents who resorted to cannibalism in order to stay alive. Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/report-starving-north-korean-father-resorts-cannibalism-article-1.1250773#ixzz2PO2jG2i6

Pray: that the aggressive rhetoric and military posturing will not result in counter-actions and pray for stability and calm communications. (Ps.2:1-2 & Ps.113:4-6)

More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/apr/02/us-north-korea-nuclear-plan

The new Supreme Leader has clamped down on mobile phone use, declaring any use of a mobile phone during the 100 days of mourning for his father an act of war leading to charges of treason and long prison terms or death. Only a small percentage of the population has mobile phones, those who do own handsets are limited in their calling scope to their economic class. Lowly workers can contact only other lowly workers. The elite are likewise sequestered to their own economic tier. The communications, from low to high, are monitored. One false step in phrasing could earn years of hard labour. The government monitors mobile calls and surfing the Internet so little ‘outside’ news passes through filters for the 400,000 internet users.

Pray: that God would enable western truths and technology to reach North Korea. (Ps.110:2)

More: http://www.mobilephones.org.uk/mobile-news/north-korean-mobile-phone-use-equates-to-treason/

Panama's president Ricardo Martinelli said his country has seized a North Korean-flagged ship in the Panama Canal carrying ‘undeclared sophisticated missile equipment.’ The 35-strong crew had resisted the search and the captain had tried to kill himself. The US ‘commended’ Panama for its actions and said it strongly supported a full inspection of the ship. The ship had crossed the Pacific from Cuba without its automatic tracking system switched on - a move described by the BBC's security correspondent Frank Gardner as highly suspicious. The suspected weaponry was found in two containers and finding further ‘surprises’ was not ruled out as the search of the ship continued on Wednesday. Neither Cuba nor North Korea has yet commented on the incident. Under United Nations sanctions North Korea is banned from weapons exports and the import of all but small arms. North Korea has an on-going missile development programme.

Pray: that all North Korea’s black-market dealings would continue to be intercepted, and that sanctions would achieve the desired results. (Job 34:28-30)

More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-23324170