In the Bleak Mid-Winter

It is the hardest place on earth to be a Christian. Up to 70,000 believers are held in labour camps. There is food shortage and famine. Believers have called for our help, especially our prayers.

In September the Dear Leader Kim Jong-Il called for a '100-day battle' to strengthen the North Korean economy. It ended on 30 December, with rumours of the worst harvest for 80 years and reports of people surviving by eating acorns. This national mobilisation has meant that practically everyone has had to work actively for the state, many staying on state farms and not returning home. Anyone found on the street without a valid reason was sent to a labour camp. "In this period the people don't get the opportunity to keep themselves alive," according to local Christians. The impact is  devastating. "In Hwangae province," they say, "it's normal again to see children lie dead on the street."

North Korean radio announced that the previous 150-day battle had seen the overall economy developed to a high level, a "noble achievement brought about by  the steel-like will and mature and refined leadership of the respected and beloved Comrade Kim Jong-Il."

The truth is that North Korea is not capable of feeding its citizens. Its own agricultural ministry has said that food shortages are expected to be even greater in  2010. In October, Free North Korea Radio quoted a source saying, "As rumours spread across North Korea that large-scale famine, the likes of which were seen in the mid-1990s, will again sweep through the country next year, anxiety is shooting up among the people and crimes of necessity are on the rise." In the nineties millions of North Koreans died because of a severe famine. The current situation is already desperate. Open Doors' coworker Simon* says, "Parents die or leave their children, because they can no longer bear to see their  sons and daughters starve. Many groups of orphans roam the country. If they are caught they are sent to an orphanage. Most of them die there because of maltreatment and malnutrition. To keep themselves alive, many North Koreans illegally trade at night. The next day they have to report back to work." During these 'battle' periods people's movements are monitored and restricted, which  severely impacts the work of Open Doors UK & Ireland. "It was much harder to spread Bibles, Christian books, food, medicines and other emergency goods among the Christians," explains Simon.

They had waited for the 150 days to end. "We wanted to pick up on our projects full steam," says Simon. But when the new 100-day battle was announced there was doubt about the way ahead. "The North Korean Christians held a secret prayer meeting. They concluded that it was important not to avoid danger. They wanted to continue with our projects. We agreed." Simon was not surprised. "North Korean Christians are very brave. Secretly they share their faith with others. They also support other North Koreans, Christians and non-Christians, with practical help. We know of a woman who doesn't have enough food herself and still puts aside some food for people who need it even more." So as the 100-day battle ends, North Korean believers have asked us to pray, not for their safety, but for the revitalisation of their ministry to the needy. Simon continues: "We hope that many individual Christians and churches in the UK and Ireland will pray regularly for North Korea. North Korean Christians greatly depend on this prayer support. Wherever you live, North Korea is only a day's travel away. But if we pray, we can immediately stand next to a North Korean Christian brother or sister, and encourage and protect them." North Korea is the hardest place on earth to be a Christian, a country where faith costs the most. It is our privilege – and our responsibility – to stand with these precious believers.

* Name changed for security reasons