"Am I therefore become your enemy,because I TELL YOU THE TRUTH...?"
(Galatians 4:16)

Brother Pleads for Life of North Korean Facing Death for Christian Faith—Brownback and Other Senators Push for His Release

"My only purpose in life right now is to save my brother. I pray to God for my brother's safety."
(Washington, DC)-Son Jong Hoon, who is visiting the United States from his home in South Korea, today pleaded with the world to pressure North Korea to release his elder brother awaiting public execution for the crime of simply being a Christian.For more than a year, Son Jong Nam, former North Korean Army officer turned underground evangelist, has been beaten, tortured and held in a bleak, North Korean death row basement jail in this capital city. He has been sentenced to public execution as an example to the North Korean people."My only purpose in life right now is to save my brother," the younger Son said."I pray to God for my brother's safety."Son Jong Hoon made his plea at a news conference at the National Press Club today.He was accompanied by representatives of The Voice of the Martyrsand staff members from the office of Sen. Sam Brownback (Kansas).VOM, an international organization that assists persecuted Christians around the world, launched a global campaign Tuesday, calling on people in the United States and other countries to write letters and send emails to North Korean, United Nations and U.S. State Department officials on Son Jong Nam's behalf.VOM has been joined in the initiative by Brownback, a noted supporter of human rights for North Korean refugees. Brownback sent letters last week, also signed by Senators Baucus (Mont.), Durbin (Ill.), Inhofe (Okla.) and Vitter (La.) asking U.S. Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice and U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to work to secure the release of the Christian prisoner.
"We are asking for prayers for Mr. Son, but also that people around the world take action on his behalf," said Todd Nettleton, director of media development for VOM. "Jesus said ministering to a prisoner was like ministering to Himself. Every letter and email can make a difference."
Some years ago the elder Son complained to the North Korean Central People's Committee when his pregnant wife, while being investigated by the secret police, was kicked in the stomach and miscarried. He made plans to leave North Korea after being pressured to drop the matter.
Son defected to China in 1998 with his wife, son and brother. His wife died after arriving there. It was in China that he met a South Korean missionary and became a Christian. Mr. Son continued his religious studies and felt called to be an evangelist in North Korea.But before he could return home, Son was arrested by Chinese police in 2001 and sent back to North Korea, charged with sending missionaries into his native country. He was imprisoned and brutally tortured for three years.Son was released on parole in May 2004 and expelled from Pyongyang to Chongjin to work at a rocket research institute.However, his health was so bad when he was released that he was unable to walk. But after receiving medical treatment, he went back to China to meet with his brother.Son was arrested again when he returned to North Korea in January 2006, and has remained in prison since.The last word of him came in February.It is suspected that because he is being kept in the capitol city, North Korean officials view him as a special case and perhaps are keeping him alive, if barely, for unknown reasons.
To help with letters you can go to:
http://www.prisoneralert.com
Source:Voice of the Martyrs
As in the days of Noah...