As I stared out across the river my prayer got here as easily as drawing breath: “Lord, may your kingdom are available in North Korea because it is in heaven”.
I used to be standing on the southerly fringe of a somewhat underwhelming divide between two vastly different countries. For some reason I had expected more. Something more odd or definitive perhaps, but this was only a murky brown river. Yet I knew that on the other riverbank, hidden from view, were lots of of metres of landmines, razor wire and more military lookout posts. Beyond that, thousands and thousands living on the planet’s most repressive country under a chaotic, despotic regime where easy on a regular basis acts might result in a death sentence – watching South Korean television as an example. Or praying to God just as I had done.
I’m sure all of us have those special places that sit with us and urge a prayer for God’s kingdom to come back there similar to it’s in heaven. Perhaps sometimes it is a quiet whispered prayer for the place where we live, and at other times it comes as a daring declaration of hope for the long run. Whenever I travel I normally find myself stirred sooner or later during my visit to wish that straightforward prayer inviting and imploring God to bring His kingdom and all that wonderful promise accommodates – the peace, justice, righteousness and freedom that’s the Kingdom of God.
This time as I prayed and asked God to bring his kingdom to North Korea I felt more acutely the gulf between the truth of the country I used to be praying for and the approaching Kingdom of Christ. Through binoculars I could see the tiny block-built houses, the ‘Tower of Life’ obelisk dedicated to the Kim dynasty which stands near the border, similar to 1000’s of others erected across the country as a relentless visible reminder of the Kims’ absolute power. And as I silently prayed for a gaggle of North Korean soldiers who were staring back towards me, the rain began to fall and the eeriest of sounds echoed across the river. In response to South Korean loudspeakers which direct K-Pop music over the demilitarised zone, the North Koreans have arrange a large PA system which broadcasts a bizarre sound much like white noise, only by some means way more discordant and disturbing.
I used to be in Korea for the launch of CSW’s latest report on the situation of human rights in North Korea and the plight of Christian groups particularly. We launched to a packed room in Seoul and were welcomed by government officials, church leaders, NGO partners and academics alike. Most importantly we frolicked with defectors who had risked all the pieces to flee to South Korea. Escapees like my friend Jun, a young man who travelled secretly through North Korea and China in a bid for freedom.
Jun had grown up in a comparatively middle-class family, but even in order that they faced constant hunger. He told me his middle-class status allowed him the posh of a single egg per week on top of the meagre allowance of grain. He showed me pictures taken after his arrival in South Korea which show an emaciated teenager that bore little resemblance to the young man I met.
For 10 months Jun walked in every day fear of being discovered by Chinese authorities who would forcibly return him to North Korea. If returned he would have faced torture, imprisonment or execution for leaving the country. The three key questions which are asked of every returnee are: “have you ever watched South Korean media?”, “have you ever viewed pornography?” and “have you ever had contact with Christians?”. An affirmative answer to any of those questions is more likely to lead to your forced disappearance and/or execution by firing squad.
Jun also told me that he had never met a Christian until he arrived in China; being a follower of Jesus in North Korea is unbelievably difficult and dangerous. If discovered Christians are handled as in the event that they were terrorists committing treason. Churches are tiny and isolated, meeting in family homes, all the time in secret.
CSW’s latest report comes 10 years after the publication of a landmark report by the United Nations Commission of Inquiry on North Korea and considers what has modified within the country. Sadly, the short answer is that there was no improvement. While the world has modified hugely over the past ten years the situation in North Korea is just as bleak because it was when the COI was released. The report is meant to, once more, call attention to this evil regime and asks the world to not look away and never to forget the plight of North Koreans but as a substitute speak up and pray for change in that country.
And in order I reflect on my time in Korea I find myself praying again with confidence and hope: “Lord, may your kingdom are available in North Korea!”.
Scot Bower is the CEO of Christian Solidarity Worldwide.
