N. Korea Rally Calls for God's Help on Capitol Hill
WASHINGTON – Hundreds of North Korean defectors, activists, congressmen, and pastors gathered Tuesday on Capitol Hill to hold a rally for North Koreans suffering under the regime of Kim Jong Il.
Several speakers invoked the power of God to deliver the North Koreans from their totalitarian government, and urged attendees to pray earnestly for these oppressed people during the Capitol Hill Rally for North Korean Human Rights, organized by the North Korea Freedom Coalition and the Korean American Church Coalition for North Korea Freedom.
"The acting and living God who used lots of people like you and me in the last four years who gave hope to North Korean refugees [has] called us today again to continue to carry out His work," said Pastor Heemoon Lee, vice chairman of the North Korea Freedom Coalition and pastor of Hana Presbyterian Church in Maryland.
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"Of course the great evil power of the communist Chinese regime seems to be a giant, but when the living and almighty God gives us strength we can surely save more North Korean refugees as He gave special strength to David who destroyed the great warrior Goliath," said Lee. "[He] who makes all impossible possible."
At least 500,000 North Koreans have crossed the border over to China in the past 10 years to escape the communist state. Although North Koreans who flee to China are considered by the U.N. Special Rapporteur on North Korea as "refugees" who deserve protection, China claims they are "economic migrants" and not refugees.
China has used the status as an excuse to return North Korean refugees back to their country where they face imprisonment, torture, and sometimes execution for leaving the country – a state crime.
"We need to be on our knees in prayer for North Korea," said Carl Moeller, president of Open Doors USA, during the rally. "When you think about freedom and you think about the world coming to grips with the totalitarian regimes of North Korea it is the last bastion of true Stalinism left in the world.
"That nation is in bondage – spiritually, politically, economically and in every possible way."
Citizens of North Korea are forced to adhere to a personality cult that revolves around worshipping current dictator Kim Jong Il and his deceased father, Kim Il Sung.
According to witnesses and human rights reports, the North Korean regime is particularly harsh on Christians, who are considered a serious threat to its power. There are many reports of Christians being publicly executed, tortured or imprisoned indefinitely simply for believing in Jesus Christ.
Around 200,000 Christians are believed to currently be in prison labor camps for their faith. Earlier this year, North Korea was listed for the sixth straight year as the No. 1 worst Christian persecutor by watchdog group Open Doors.
Open Doors is a member of the North Korea Freedom Coalition and helped organize many of the events for North Korea Freedom Week.
Others who spoke at Tuesday's rally include Sam Kim, president of Korean Church Coalition (KCC) for North Korean Freedom; Rep. Ed Royce (R-Calif.); and Peter Beck, executive director of the U.S. Committee for Human Rights in North Korea.
On Thursday, a press conference will be held with Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) , Congressman Frank Wolf, and former North Korean refugees on the release of a congressional letter to Hu Jintao to save the North Korean Refugees. Activists for Tibet, Burma, Darfur and others persecuted by China's policies will also be part of the event.
North Korea Freedom Week 2008 began April 26 and will conclude May 3.
