Methodist Church in Britain lends support to Christians in North Korea

LONDON – Many people are not aware that there are Christians in North Korea, let alone that The Methodist Church in Britain has been working with them.

In January, the Fund for World Mission granted £5,000 (S$11,000) to help the Church in North Korea run a food production company to help people there.

At about the same time it also joined in the Global Day of Repentance and Prayer for North Korea.

Mr Steve Pearce, Partnership Coordinator for Asia and the Pacific, said: “Times are particularly hard for all the people of North Korea at the present time. The North Korean population is cut off and isolated from the rest of the world and dependent on the regime for their needs. Food is scarce for many – there are problems in the supply of humanitarian aid.

“Christianity is treated as ‘a bad element’ in this socialist country. Christians have been beaten, arrested, tortured, or killed because of their religious beliefs but local sources estimate the number of underground Christians to be at least 200,000, maybe many more, and many of them are imprisoned for their faith.” – The Methodist Church in Britain.