http://www.charismanews.com/us/35300-two-north-korean-christians-killed-for-their-faith
2:30PM EST 1/18/2013 by ELIZABETH SANCHEZ
Open Doors has confirmed the death of two Christians in North Korea.
According to the ministry that serves persecuted Christians worldwide,
one Christian was recently shot while he was on his way back to Bible
training in China. The other died in one of North Korea's notorious
labor camps.
The first Christian had travelled to China several times before.
People told him he could earn more money, but after working in China
for six months he still hadn't received any money, even though he
found several jobs.
After awhile he met an Open Doors worker who cared for the North
Korean refugee. The North Korean became interested in the Christian
faith. After studying the Bible and receiving teaching, he became a
believer. He eventually chose to return to North Korea.
"He was very excited about his new faith and wanted to share the
gospel with his family," says an Open Doors worker. "He wanted to come
back to China to study the Bible more so he could explain the
Christian faith better to his family. It is heartbreaking that he was
killed. I cannot stop thinking: 'If only he had arrived a little later
at the border river, the guard would not have seen and shot him. He
could still be alive today.'"
Another Christian recently died in a labor camp. This man also studied
the Bible in China. After eight months he decided to return back to
North Korea. According to Open Doors, he became a dedicated and
faithful Christian. However, North Korean authorities found out about
his secret faith and he was sent to prison.
"We just received an update that he was dead," says the Open Doors
worker. "He was terribly tortured because of his faith. He was also
forced to do heavy labor while hardly receiving any food. Before his
return to North Korea, he was baptized and willing to deal with the
all the hardships he had to face. We never tell people to go back to
North Korea, but he was happy to. We are devastated to hear about
these murders. We know Christians die for their faith almost every day
in North Korea, but it is still hard to deal with."
Open Doors has confirmed both deaths through several sources, which
cannot be mentioned for security reasons.
North Korea has been No. 1 on Open Doors' World Watch List for the
past 11 years. No where else in the world is the persecution of
Christians so intense. Even the possession of the Bible is enough to
be killed or sent to a labor camp for life with your family.
The 200,000 to 400,000 Christians in North Korea have to profess their
faith in secret. Approximately 50,000 to 70,000 Christians live, work
and ultimately die in one of the horrible concentration camps.
A refugee from North Korea recently stated: "there is no religious
freedom whatsoever in North Korea. People are simply killed if they
believe in Jesus. Kim Jong-Un is a god and there cannot be any god
besides him. Yes, there are church services in North Korea, but only
when foreigners are present. The state calls up some locals to be
present. There is no freedom of religion, speech or press in North
Korea."
Through its networks, Open Doors strengthens persecuted Christians in
North Korea. Open Doors also ministers to refugees who flee to China
because of hunger or political persecution.
GOD JESUS SAVIOR