News / Thoughts

North Korea: Chinese Pastor killed

As the BBC reports that a small team of its reporters is banished from North Korea we’re receiving reports that North Korean secret agents have martyred a Korean-Chinese pastor. Han Choong Yeol who lived in Chiangbai, a town on the Chinese side of the border with North Korea was active in helping North Korean refugees by giving them food, medicines, clothes and other goods they needed for survival back in North Korea.

On Saturday 30 April, pastor Han left his home just after noon and was supposed to return before 5pm. When he didn’t come back, a large search was set up. Around 8pm his lifeless body was found, visibly maimed by stab and axe wounds.

People who worked with Han describe him as ‘extremely passionate for North Koreans’. His ministry came with a price. In November 2014 a deacon of his church was kidnapped and never heard of again. Pastor Han knew he was a target too, but continued his ministry.

Han was 49 and leaves his wife, son and daughter as well as the local Three Self-Church that he pastored, that has 600 members.

Where did this happen?

Pray now…

• Thank God for the life and dedication of pastor Han
• For comfort for Han’s family and church members, who are now without a husband, father and shepherd. Pray that they will be able to forgive the killers.
• For others involved in North Korea mission work, pray that God will give them courage and protect them
• For forgiveness for the spies who murdered pastor Han. Pray they will repent and come to know the one for whom pastor Han gave his life.
• For the kidnapped deacon and the many other Christians held captive in North Korea.