North Korea trades launch for lunch

Cover photo by Babel Travel. Story
photo courtesy Open Doors USA

North Korea (MNN) ― The Pentagon says the U.S. has suspended food aid to North Korea over undeterred plans to launch a rocket.

The reclusive country claims it is launching a weather satellite, but South Korea fears the launch is a disguised ballistic missile test.  

The loss of food aid complicates an already desperate situation for the average citizen in North Korea. A UNICEF assessment in January concluded that 80% of the children in North Korea are malnourished. The country faces its worst food shortage in a decade, with six million people at risk.

Government food rations for some have been cut to a tenth of what is needed to keep people alive. It's against that backdrop that word has leaked out about continued preparations for the annual "Day of the Sun" celebrations, a move that President and CEO of Open Doors USA Carl Moeller finds troubling.

He says, "We've come to expect horrible things from the North Korean government, but the fact that the super elite of this country continue to bask in luxury and wealth while the vast majority of the country suffers horrible poverty and starvation is a situation that almost defies imagination." 

An unnamed Open Doors partner shared the government spin: "Glorify this year 2012 as a year of proud victory, a year when an era of prosperity is unfolding, true to the instructions of the great General Kim Jong-Il."

It was this New Year's message that ushered in Kim Jong-Un's regime in 2012. The peak of planned festivities will take place on April 15th, the 100th birth anniversary of Kim Il-Sung. The preparations for the celebrations have already caused much suffering for the people--and the end is not in sight. Moeller says scrutiny is especially close now. "I think it's important for people to realize that about 1% of the population of North Korea actually is in a labor camp right now, which is a staggering figure if you think about that in terms of what those labor camps mean. I can't picture anything other than just a charade of horror with these people being forced to celebrate the birth of this horrible dictator."

To the outside world, the picture will be one of prosperity, color, and a vibrant new leader for the Republic. The "Arirang" mass performances will be bigger than usual. They're designed for two purposes: to impress the world and to give honor to (or even worship) the leaders. No doubt, there will be a large emphasis on the glorification of Kim Jong-Un, who assumed power after his father Kim Jong-Il died in December.

The celebrations will not only take place in Pyongyang, but throughout the country citizens have to participate in events to commemorate the leaders. Those events vary from playing games to local dance performances.  

North Korea also announced that people could expect a "generous gift from the Respected Comrade Kim Jong-Un."

Another celebration will be  the 4th Party Conference, which is scheduled to be held in mid-April. Kim Jong-Un will most likely receive some new, important positions in the state apparatus.

Celebrating the anniversary and the "state's progress" is mandatory. Aside from the normal cleanup, households have to contribute 20,000 won for the state's "total mobilization period." The average worker receives a monthly salary of only 2,000 won. A US dollar, on the black market in North Korea, is worth 5,300 won.

The funds will likely go to the feasts and celebrations at the highest levels of society, with the poor receiving little more than an extra food ration. Moeller says, "I shudder to think what the impact of the celebration is going to do economically for the country as this money is literally going to be wasted."  

As preparations reach a fevered pitch, one church leader writes: "It is very difficult to speak our minds, even to our friends and family. There is a good chance we will be arrested if we speak freely."

The North Korean Church deeply appreciates the prayer of their foreign brothers and sisters during these very difficult weeks. Moeller says they're encouraging a show of solidarity. "We're calling on Christians in the West to have a day of fasting and prayer on April 15. That is the day that this Day of the Sun is going to take place. It's really important for us as Christians to show our solidarity with the believers in that country by praying for them and taking a day off of food for remembrance of the suffering of the Korean people."

Out of the bleakness comes hope. Despite the scrutiny and the increasing volatility of the government, Moeller says the Gospel is still reaching people. "We have had great reports from coworkers who are talking about the remaining hunger, the passion of the Christians in that country--the passion for spiritual sustenance."

That, he notes, is the paradox of Christ. "We know that the church is growing in North Korea. We also know that it's horribly persecuted. Persecution is actually an indicator that the church is growing and that the church is growing is going to inevitably produce persecution."

We'll keep you updated about how you can participate in the April 15 vigil. For now, check our Featured Links section for more on Open Doors.