Crossing Borders

North Korea's current form of governance is a unique one — blending facets of communism with dictatorship, the Kim family has maintained complete control over this country and its people since the founding of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in 1948.

By establishing a totalitarian regime, Kim Il-sung insured that the rule of his family would continue unopposed. The Kim family's regime has maintained its power and control through a distinctive way of ruling: a combination of ideological indoctrination, surveillance, and repression of dissent. Everything from the economy to the media to daily life is meticulously controlled, which guarantees the current leader full control of all aspects of North Korean life.

Learn more on our page: https://www.crossingbordersnk.org/communism-and-dictatorship-in-north-korea

Take a look at what's been happening in North Korea (and China) recently —

1. Two North Korean women were executed in China for helping North Korean defectors. This marks the first report of executions since China started repatriating defectors back to North Korea last October.

2. North Korea is cracking down on abortion and contraception to boost its declining birth rate.

3. Kim Jong-un continues to boost his country’s nuclear weapons arsenal.

4. North Korea's top diplomat recently attended a women's forum in Russia.

Find further details at https://www.crossingbordersnk.org/blog/top-headlines-from-north-korea-september-2024/2024/9/20

Brenda was abandoned by her parents in North Korea and for 10 years, she lived as a kotjebi (one who is in constant search for food and shelter).

Brenda eventually escaped to China in 2008 at a time when the Chinese government was significantly cracking down on North Korean refugees and the brokers who trafficked them. She was sold in China as a bride for "a very high price," where she experienced brutal beatings.

Brenda was introduced to the gospel years before she came to our shelter and when she gave her life to Christ, she learned what it meant to trust God and not depend only on herself. She has shared her testimony with us, and we have been so blessed to see how the Lord is using her to reach others for His glory.

While in South Korea, Brenda decided to pursue studies at a South Korean seminary, a seven-year journey that led her to become an evangelist. She shared with us that she believes God’s mission for her life is to help save her country through Jesus. “North Korea is dark and nothing prospers there because God is unknown. I have to do what I can to change that.”

https://www.crossingbordersnk.org/blog/forsaken-struck-down-but-not-destroyed-2-corinthians-48-10/2024/9/12

Im Ae-ji of South Korea and Pang Chol-mi of North Korea made history at the 2024 Paris Olympics by becoming the first women from their respective countries to win Olympic boxing medals.

The pair first met in 2023, and have competed several times against each other, developing camaraderie and mutual respect. However, their friendship highlights the difficult positions DPRK athletes are in where they find themselves caught in the crossfire of political conflicts.

Read more about their friendship and possible consequences on our blog: https://www.crossingbordersnk.org/blog/the-unlikely-friendship-and-potential-fallout-of-north-and-south-korean-boxers/2024/9/3

Chuseok, one of the biggest traditional Korean holidays and a time meant for sharing feasts, family reunions, and honoring ancestors, is marked this year by North Korea's increasing crises: severe floodings, famines, and political executions.

Countless North Koreans are suffering — the recent floods in North Korea have left thousands homeless and caused extensive damages to its infrastructures, and many crops have been destroyed. Clean water supply remains insufficient as various reports say that tap water supply has not been restored even after a month has passed since the flood.

We are praying for North Korean citizens as they struggle to support themselves and their families during these devastating times.

Read more of the story: https://www.crossingbordersnk.org/blog/north-koreas-chuseok-overshadowed-by-crisis/2024/9/13

Remember when the table tennis duo from North Korea posed for a photo with their South Korean and Chinese counterparts? The photo went viral, being seen as a moment of peace between the two Koreas after months of escalating political tensions...

Well, according to multiple sources, the North Korean athletes are undergoing a process of "ideological evaluation" — an evaluation that will supposedly last a month and is aimed at "cleansing the team of contamination" (which basically means the athletes are being questioned to see if their behavior at the Olympics contradicted the values of Kim Jong-un's regime).

It's unclear what the end result of the "ideological evaluation" will be, but the athletes could face anything from a warning to severe punishment.

Read more of the story here: https://www.livemint.com/sports/athletics-news/paris-olympics-winner-ri-jong-sik-kim-kum-yong-may-be-penalised-for-smiling-with-rivals-from-china-south-korea-kim-jong-11724577883823.html

North Korea’s current leader, Kim Jong-un, is facing severe health challenges related to obesity, which has prompted his regime to even seek medical assistance from abroad. For the notoriously isolated and secretive country, these actions have highlighted the severity of his health problems.

While Kim Jong-un has not officially announced his successor, many believe it will be his daughter Ju-ae, who has become increasingly visible in public appearances, especially during important nationwide military events. Despite her young age, the regime has declared her a strong candidate.

Read more at https://www.crossingbordersnk.org/blog/north-koreas-secret-preparations-amid-kim-jong-uns-health-crisis/2024/8/20

🚨Major news update!🚨

North Korea has announced that it will resume international tourism this year (Dec) after nearly five years of strict Covid-19 border controls.

South Korea's president unveiled plans to provide North Koreans with more information about the outside world; he also pledged to establish a North Korea freedom and human rights fund.

North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un, reaffirmed a pledge to deepen cooperation with Russia, and the two countries announced a partnership treaty that offers each other military assistance “without delay” if either were attacked.

Read more at https://www.crossingbordersnk.org/blog/top-headlines-from-north-korea-august-2024/2024/8/19

Despite significant losses of life and property, North Korea has refused international help and continues to use the effects of Typhoon Gaemi as a political tool to promote Kim Jong-un's image as a "caring and concerned leader."

Due to collapsed roads and disrupted railways caused by severe flooding, rescue and relief efforts have been hindered. North Korea's government has also concealed the true extent of the damage. Reports indicate that authorities ordered flood victims who lost their families or homes not to express their grief publicly.

We are praying for the Lord's peace and protection over everyone who has been affected by Typhoon Gaemi.

https://www.crossingbordersnk.org/blog/hidden-catastrophe-north-koreas-attempt-to-conceal-the-flood-crisis/2024/8/16

While the Olympics may be over, we're still thinking about the mysterious table tennis duo from North Korea who earned their country a silver medal!

The North Korean pair, 24-year-old Ri Jong-sik and 22-year-old Kim Kum-yong, entered the Olympics as underdogs, competing against table tennis powerhouses like China, Japan and Germany. Despite the odds, they advanced through the rounds with a series of impressive victories.

Echoing a similar viral photo taken during the Rio 2016 Olympics, the North Korean duo was seen posing for a photo with the South Korean and Chinese table tennis medalists. This gesture, captured and shared widely on social media, symbolized a moment of peace between the two Koreas after months of escalating political tension.

Read more here: https://www.crossingbordersnk.org/blog/mysterious-north-korean-duos-silver-in-olympic-table-tennis/2024/8/12

Many North Korean refugees, who are primarily women, escape to China, where some are bought by and married to Chinese men. These are often difficult and abusive marriages, and we work with many North Korean women through our Elim House and Elim Community to bring them support, encouragement, and safety.

Candice was one such woman, one who came to our Elim Community gatherings from time to time. She eventually confided in our pastor about the difficulties she had endured because of her husband. From what we know, Candice suffered greatly and was rarely joyful.

It has been a few weeks since we last saw Candice, and we know from past experiences that there’s a high likelihood that she hired a broker and fled to South Korea with her child. We are fervently praying for their safe passage to South Korea. We would also like to ask that you join us in prayer for the protection of our network in China as well as our pastor and the Elim Community. 🙏

Over 25 million people live in North Korea, the most closed off and oppressive country in today's world. Facing persecution, financial hardships, and starvation, many North Koreans make the decision to flee their country, at the potential cost of their lives.

South Korea and China remain the most popular destinations for North Korean refugees. While the South Korean government offers generous resettlement benefits to help North Koreans integrate into South Korean society, China considers them to be illegal economic migrants who are subject to deportation back to North Korea (despite this, there are an estimated 200,000 North Koreans hiding in China!).

Other destinations for North Korean refugees include Japan, Europe, Canada, and the United States.

If you want to learn more, you can find more details here: https://www.crossingbordersnk.org/destinations-of-north-korean-defectors

North Korea is back at this year's Olympics after taking a several-year hiatus — a team of 16 athletes will compete across seven sports including boxing, gymnastics, table tennis, wrestling, and judo. This is considered a significant moment for the isolated country, as it seeks to engage in sports diplomacy globally.

North Korea's hiatus from the games has caused difficulties for their athletes, as many of them use this opportunity to seek a better life for themselves and their families, especially considering their country’s substandard living conditions and chronic food shortages.

We've seen both North and South Korean Olympic athletes rise above decades of hostility for the sake of the games, and we hope that the Olympics will continue to help bridge gaps and foster friendship between the two Koreas.

Read the full post here: https://www.crossingbordersnk.org/blog/north-korea-back-at-the-olympics-after-absence-in-2020-and-2022/2024/7/25

Thank you Great News Radio for caring enough to interview our executive director, Dan Chung, and his college friend, David Kang. The interview (linked below) is about their friendship and how God uses both of them to impact the world. We hope you are encouraged and blessed!

Reaching North & South Korea and China. Wow God, hear about Crossing Borders by Dan Chung and David Kang. Listen here: https://www.greatnewsradio.org/server1/web/archives/aug_24/08_05_2024.mp3

Take a look at some recent news headlines involving North Korea 👇

Ri Il-kyu, a senior North Korean diplomat who fled to South Korea in November 2023 has been identified as the highest-ranking North Korean diplomat to escape since 2016
South Korea has imposed sanctions on a Hong Kong shipping company after discovering their involvement in an illegal transfer of North Korean coal
South Korea has begun a loudspeaker campaign against North Korea in response to the latter's decision to float trash balloons across the boarder

Read more about these headlines: https://www.crossingbordersnk.org/blog/top-headlines-from-north-korea-july-2024/2024/7/23

Every year on July 27, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) celebrates "Victory Day," which is marked by grand military parades, patriotic performances, and various public celebrations across the nation.

"Victory Day" commemorates the signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement in 1953, which brought a ceasefire to the Korean War.

On the surface, North Korea celebrating this might seem like a good thing ... like a step toward reunification. Unfortunately, that is not the case: North Korea portrays this day as a significant victory over South Korea and the United States.

For the West, the Korean War was "forgotten," and that has led to several serious consequences.

Read our blog post to find out what those consequences are: https://www.crossingbordersnk.org/blog/how-the-korean-war-is-celebrated-and-also-forgotten/2024/7/26

This past June, a missions team from Shepherd Church in California spent a week in South Korea with the women of Elim House and Elim Community.

One of the team members led a group activity (entitled "Two Hands") where everyone traced their hands on a large piece of construction paper.

Each left hand drawing was filled with words, phrases, or pictures of things the participants needed to hold onto. Each right hand drawing was filled with things that they needed to let go of.

This activity fostered a wonderful connection — through the disparities and similarities, each resident and missions team member grew closer together.

We thank the Lord for His work in our Elim Community!

Read more of the story: https://www.crossingbordersnk.org/blog/two-hands/2024/7/22

North Koreans who escape their country have a long and arduous journey to freedom.

Released in early 2023, the documentary Beyond Utopia centers around Pastor Seungeun Kim, a South Korean human rights activist and director of the Caleb Mission, which has rescued over 1,000 North Korean defectors since 2000.

Many of these refugees try to reach Thailand, where they can achieve refugee status. However, traveling through China, Vietnam, and Laos poses significant risks, as they can be captured and repatriated to North Korea.

Our Executive Director watched this film, and he highly recommends this documentary to anyone who is interested in the plight of North Korean refugees. If you have read the harrowing tales of North Koreans on our website, this film will add incredible color and detail to these stories.

We can tell you about the routes, the dangers, and what the refugees' memories are of their journeys, but the film gives the viewer a look at the beads of sweat that fall down the face of Pastor Kim and the families that he is helping along the way. It details the unpaved terrain through thick jungle that most of the 33,000 refugees in South Korea had to crawl through. It is worthy of the praise that it has received and adds a healthy dose of humanness to the perilous journey that readers of our website know so well.