The next statue to topple

Kim Il Sung statue

It is more than a year ago that I read Soon Ok Lee's book Eyes of the tailless animals. Ms Lee survived six years of cruel imprisonment in North Korea's labour camps. As a loyal party member and ‘successful career woman’ (North Korean style), she was falsely accused and convicted on corruption charges – without a proper juridical procedure. In prison Ms Lee was severely tortured and forced to sign a written confession. She managed to survive the hellish labour camps where she'd witnessed how Christian prisoners were singled out to be severely tortured and often killed by their guards. These stories are so horrific and shocking that you have to force yourself to read on. Of course it is more convenient to put such a book aside and forget all about it – but my conscience didn’t allow me to do so! Moreover – being a publisher myself – I decided to acquire the translation rights of this book and publish a Dutch edition: Zij mogen de hemel niet zien (which means: They are not allowed to see heaven – i.e., Christian prisoners are not allowed to look up to the sky or even mention the words God or Heaven).


Dutch edition

This Dutch edition received a lot of attention in our country – the book was even presented in Dutch parliament by Tineke Huizinga – MP for ChristenUnie (first article in Dutch and second article in Dutch) - she will surely get my vote again next time! Within a year 12.000 copies were sold (the book reached #1 in Christian nonfiction, which is good news for our publishing house. More importantly, it is good news for the North Korean Christians, for Ms Soon Ok Lee herself and for Open Doors).


Kim Jong Il

Ms Lee was allowed to leave prison after six years (which is a miracle in itself) and she even managed to escape to South Korea some time later. Today she lives in the US where she is trying to raise awareness of the human rights situation in her former home country. Ms Lee was asked to testify before The US House of Representatives and the US Senate. She gave here audiences a graphic description of the violations of human rights in North Korea and testified about the horrific treatment of detainees in her country’s prisons and labour camps. This backround information can be read / downloaded on her site as well.


Prayer Chain

This year the Christian organisation Open Doors started a so called prayer chain: a continues prayer (24/7) for North Korea by hundreds of Christians around the world. This project will go on for 3 years and you can read all about it here (sorry, this information is all in Dutch, but if you are looking for English information about Open Doors, this is the site to visit).

Please join our prayers, visit Soon Ok Lee’s site and tell your friends and relatives about this! If you think it is too big a task to pray 10 minutes each week for North Korea on a fixed time, you could still decide to pray - right here, right now, while you are reading this!

Pray...
For religious, intellectual and political freedom in North Korea
Ask God to strengthen, encourage and protect his persecuted children in this closed-off country
Ask God to help his followers in their battle against the demonic powers (this is spiritual warfare!)
Ask God to unmask the powers of darkness and to change the hearts of the North Korean leadership, that they will open up their hearts to the liberating message of Jesus Christ
Ask God to topple the statues of idolatry in North Korea (both Kim Il Sung - the deceased father - and his son Kim Young Il are worshiped as gods. This worship is not voluntary - the North Koreans are obliged to take part in this. Even foreign visitors are asked to pay respect to the statues and images depicting ‘the great leaders’)
Ask God for more awareness amongst Christians about persecution of the church across the world and in North Korea in particular.

Please, think for a moment about these words taken from Scripture:

Remember those who are in bonds, as bound with them; and those who are ill-treated, since you are also in the body. (Hebrews 13:3)

Feel free to post a comment about this topic. Please join me in praying for the persecuted church in North Korea!