'Brutal' Oppression Highlighted Ahead of North Korea Freedom Week
North Korea Freedom Week is kicking off its second year this weekend as thousands of human rights activists and religious leaders from around the world center their voices in Washington, D.C.
North Korea recently celebrated the birthday of the late Kim Il Sung on Saturday, a week before Christians observe the third anniversary of North Korea Freedom Day.
Deep bows were made to a 75-foot statue of the national founder while much of the communist nation continued to suffer in starvation and persecution and with virtually no personal freedoms.
"Living here in the United States, it is hard for us to imagine that up to 200,000 people, including thousands of children, are held in the horrid political prison camps of North Korea," Charles W. Colson told pastors in a statement ahead of North Korea Freedom Week. "The religious and political oppression in North Korea is unimaginably brutal."
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North Korea Freedom Week is kicking off its second year this weekend with a concert across from the White House. Thousands of human rights activists and religious leaders from around the world will center their voices in Washington, D.C., for a week of eye-opening exhibits, hearings, prayers, and a screening and culminating to North Korea Freedom Day on Apr. 28.
The events give rise to the awareness of the brutal human rights situation in North Korea – ranked the worst persecutor on Open Doors World Watch List 2006 – for the thousands of children and defectors.
One Christian survivor of North Korea's political prison camps spoke of torturous deaths for believers who revealed their faith.
"Because of their belief in God, and because they sang hymns in the camps, they were stepped on until death," said Soon Ok Lee, who also suffered because of her faith, according to Open Doors. "I saw many unspeakable things."
Such incidents were documented in a report released by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom in November.
Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kans.) showed his support, saying "We must all confront the intolerable evil. Please join me in commemorating North Korea Freedom Week."
"The sufferings in North Korea have gone on far too long," said Colson. "As Christians we are called to defend 'the least of these.'"
For a list of freedom week events, visit www.nkfreedom.org
