Open Doors USA: Trump Must Confront North Korean Persecution of Christians – David Curry, president and CEO of Open Doors USA, issued this statement in advance of the planned summit in Singapore between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un: “When President Trump meets with Kim Jong Un on June 12 in Singapore, Open Doors urges the president to confront Kim’s long history of human rights violations—including North Korea’s refusal to grant its citizens basic religious freedoms. #NorthKorea

Open Doors USA: Trump Must Confront North Korean Persecution of Christians

For the 17th consecutive year, North Korea is the No. 1 most dangerous place to be a Christian, according to the Open Doors World Watch List. 

Open Doors has a long history of advocating and supporting Christians and religious minorities in North Korea who are persecuted for their faith.

I will be in Singapore the day of the summit, where I will host the Open Doors’ online Prayer Summit for North Korea, so Christians around the world can join together in prayer for this important issue. Join us at OpenDoorsUSA.org/Pray4NK on Monday, June 11, 9 p.m. ET, to show your support for those suffering in North Korea. 

Open Doors’ researchers estimate that more than 300,000 Christians still live in North Korea, where they are viewed as hostile to a regime that seeks to eliminate them.

Often entire families are persecuted for the ‘crime’ of one person becoming a Christian. Some have been rounded up and exiled to concentration camps for generations—for the simple act of possessing a Bible. Open Doors estimates that there are at least 50,000 Christians confined in prison camps, and some estimates put this number as high as 120,000 individuals. The conditions are deplorable. 

One Christian woman described her detention: being forced to strip down for a cavity search, then placed in solitary confinement—a room just large enough for a single person to lie down—all because of her faith in Jesus. Pregnant prisoners were forced to have abortions. After violent interrogations, prisoners in labor camps continue to face physical and emotional torment. They work 12-hour shifts and receive just a handful of food each day.

Outside the prison camps, Kim restricts every facet of social and religious life. He requires citizens to attend indoctrination meetings and worship himself and his ancestors. He also restricts their access to anything but state-endorsed literature, radio shows, TV programs and websites, so that he is able to control their thinking and religious behavior without the influence of outside information. This is unacceptable in 2018.

Please, if you care about this issue, visit OpenDoorsUSA.org/Pray4NK to learn more about why North Korea is the worst country in the world to be a Christian.”

Listen to the audio from David Curry, president and CEO of Open Doors USA

About Open Doors USA

For more than 60 years, Open Doors USA has worked in the world’s most oppressive and restrictive countries for Christians. Open Doors works to equip and encourage Christians living in dangerous circumstances with the threat of persecution and equips the Western church to advocate for the persecuted. Christians are one of the most persecuted religious groups in the world and are oppressed in at least 60 countries. For more information, visit OpenDoorsUSA.org.

Press Release from Open Doors USA and DeMoss.

About the Author

Steve Patterson

A Christian Blogger that enjoys blogging about the Bible, Theology, God, Jesus Christ, Christian Music, Family, Cats, Odd Holidays, sewing and much more. I have been blogging since 2004, however, I have been blogging on Courageous Christian Father since 2012. I enjoy listening to Christian Music. I am married with 1 daughter, 2 step-sons and a step daughter.

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