Global Week of Prayer for North Korea

** the following is a report from Assist News Service,
used with permission

Friday, June 16, 2006

Global Week of Prayer for North Korea
By Jeremy Reynalds
Special Correspondent for ASSIST News Service
SURREY, ENGLAND (ANS) --

There will be a Global Week of Prayer for North Korea, organized by British-based human rights organization Christian Solidarity Worldwide and partner agencies worldwide.

The week of prayer, running from June 19-25, will include prayer and protest against the human rights violations occurring in North Korea.

According to a news release from Christian Solidarity worldwide (CSW), the persecution of Christians in North Korea may be the worst anywhere in the world.

Despite the secrecy surrounding the country, information on the oppression, statewide enforced idolatry and brutal persecution of the Christians has become increasingly available in recent years. CSW reported that China refuses to acknowledge the existence of North Korean refugees within its territory. In addition, refugees found by the Chinese authorities are returned to North Korea where they face torture and sometimes death.

The Global Week of Prayer for North Korea is supported by agencies internationally. Prayer events are planned in various countries during the week to highlight the severe repression of religious and other freedoms. Amongst the events planned are daily vigils outside the Chinese Embassy in Seoul, South Korea, organized by Christian Social Responsibility. These will be complemented by vigils held in capital cities worldwide during the week.

The prayer events planned for the week, CSW stated, are accompanied by advocacy and aid. Petitions, facilities to donate to aid work in North Korea and extensive resources to facilitate prayer can be found at http://www.prayfornorthkorea.org/, or http://www.prayfornorthkorea.net/ in Korean.

In London, CSW reported the agency is encouraging people to join the protest outside the Chinese Embassy on June 22 at 3.45 p.m GMT. CSW's Chief Executive, Mervyn Thomas, said in a news release, “We encourage all Christians and Churches to take up this call to prayer during the Global Week of Prayer for North Korea, and especially on Sunday 25th June, the anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War. We are anxious that the horrific suffering and darkness overshadowing the people of North Korea should finally be demolished."CSW is a human rights organization focusing on religious freedom and working on behalf of those persecuted for their Christian beliefs.