North Korea - What's Going On?

Are things getting any better in North Korea? Yes, in some ways. But we're not ready for a "Weight Watchers" program there yet. The crisis is far from past.

The Amnesty International Report of 2005 cites the following human rights situation in Chosun. Always remember that what is happening to the population at large is happening to your Christ-filled brothers and sisters too. You'll soon see it is no time to stop praying for them.

My condensation of the report:

• Public executions continue. Those who proselyte or practice in the underground church are some of the victims of these executions.
• Anyone seen to be in disagreement with the government faces severe punishments.
• Access to international media denied to most citizens. TV and radio receivers are set to government channels.
• Reporters who so much as misspell a senior executive's name can be punished.
• Christians, just because they are Christians, can be put in labor camps.
• In the prison camps, torture is common.
• Prisoners found communicating can be beaten with iron bars.
• Cold water, even in freezing weather, can be poured on a prisoner or he can be subject to forced intake of water.
• Repatriated refugees (sent back from China when caught) have been imprisoned, tortured, and/or executed.
• Even children who are caught and returned are considered criminals, not victims.
• 10-11 million still do not have enough to eat.
• 6.5 million are chronically malnourished.
• Food rations actually declined from 2003 to 2005. There was enough being given out in '03 to give every person 319 grams of food per day. That shrunk to 250 grams in '05.
• Food can be bought at privatized markets, but the cost is many times higher than the government issue. Many urban families spend up to 85% of their income on food.
• The number of children whose growth has been stunted from malnutrition lessened from 42% in 2002 to 37% in 2005.
• Acute malnutrition is down from 9 to 7 percent.
• Underweight children aged 1-6 has risen by 2% .
• One third of NK's moms are malnourished.
• There have been alarming reports about increases of maternal mortality rates. No numbers given.
• Lack of access to clean drinking water and poor sanitation continue.

The question always comes back to the richest and most prosperous believers on the planet at present: What shall we do? My answers are still forming for me and my house. Present activities combined with some future plans respond to this huge need. Perhaps God will speak a plan into your life? What if tens of thousands of God's people responded, and showed the world what Christ does when people hurt?

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. Just about every day I'm writing a blog featuring some news, a book, or a story of North Korea. There's a live news feed on the site, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together!

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond on my site.