Daily NK
Park Hyun Min
6/13/2006
Chairman Kang Young Sup at Chosun Christian Alliance (North Korea) met with Association For Interaction Of Our People (Representative Song Ki Hak) and Pyongyang Team from Korean Churches (Manager Pastor Baek Kwang Jin) who visited Pyongyang on the 5th. He said he will hold a public Christian assembly in North Korea next March.
They are planning a International Assembly where Christians from foreign countries including the North and South will attend for the centenary of Pyongyang Revival which is the root of the Christian revival in Korea. It is noticeable that the North said 12,000 North Korean Christians will participate.
It sounds they want to make others believe that there are quite a number of Christians. It also reflects that North Korean government cares about the criticism from the international community that there is no religious freedom in North Korea. At the same time, it could he their strategy to gain more aid through the interaction with South Korean religious groups.
However, there is no religious freedom in North Korea. People who come in contact with Christians go to the prison camps or are subject to public execution.
North Koreans have been taught that religion is a superstitious and unscientific way of understanding the world. Religion has originated from recognizing the nature as a supernatural being in a primitive time when there wasn’t enough understanding of the world.
The revised North Korean constitution in 1998 eliminated ‘the freedom to release anti-religious propaganda’ and stated the freedom to build religious buildings and hold religious ceremonies. However, it is for outsiders to see in order to avoid criticisms from international community. It is not true that religious freedom is granted for the North Koreans.
The educational material for the people of North Korea in July 2005 published by Chosun Worker’s Party says, “Let us destroy the conspiracies and plans who spread religion in us”, regarding the issue of religious freedom mentioned by the US and the proselytization of South Korean missionaries. The policy regarding religion in North Korea hasn’t changed from the past.
Religious activities are considered crimes against the country according to the testimonies of North Korean defectors in South Korea. Last month, it was reported that 30 Christians were sentenced to public execution when they were caught by National Security Agency while having a Christian service with people from Euijoo, Shin Eui Joo, Yong Chun and Yum Joo.
Even though religious freedom is suppressed so strictly, some religious groups in South Korea is going along as if there is religious freedom in North Korea. What would North Korean belivers in underground churches think about South Korean christians? They would feel betrayed and insulted.
Pastor Suh Kyung Suk (CCK, Human Rights Commission) who led the way for humanitarian assistance and religious interaction for years have declared that Bongsu church is for deception, and the South Korean Christians should stop lining up to meet fake North Korean believers; it implies grains of truth.
When the believers turn away from the suppression of religion in North Korea and only care for meeting with fake Christians, it would be hard for religious freedom to be realized in North Korea
Before it is too late, more attention and care should be paid to the true believers who are executed and imprisoned in prison camps and leading a life of misery.
It is ‘even worse when you don’t act out, even though you are aware’. Christians should ask themselves what they need to do for the human rights and religious freedom in North Korea.
