Page 9 - Voice-of-the-Persecuted-Christians-Oct-Dec-2023-124

9 9
15-year
sentence for
kidnapped
believer
NORTH KOREA
Zhang Wen Shi, also known
by his Korean name and
title as Deacon Jang, is an
ethnically Korean-Chinese
citizen who lived in Changbai,
China, a town on the border with
North Korea. He worked alongside
Korean-Chinese pastor Han Chung-
Ryeol, ministering to Koreans who
crossed over to Changbai.
Though it is illegal to cross into
China without permission, North
Koreans often visit border towns to
purchase goods for reselling back
home, to seek medicine or other
help and to conduct business. Near
Changbai, they gather herbs on
the Korean side of the mountain
and sell them at the market in
Changbai.
Jang regularly hosted these
visiting North Koreans before they
travelled home, giving them warm
clothing, food and supplies for their
return. He saw it as his Christian
duty to welcome the stranger and,
as a believer, shared about his faith
to those willing to listen.
A number of these Koreans became
Christians. Some returned to Jang’s
home repeatedly for more Bible
training, and he and Pastor Han
taught them how to share their
faith with their loved ones. Their
goal was always to see North
Koreans return home.
In November 2014 Jang was
kidnapped from China and
sentenced to 15 years in a North
Korean prison.
Fifteen months later, Pastor Han
was lured from his home and
stabbed to death in Changbai.
Deacon Jang was
kidnapped from
China and is in
a North Korean
prison
TAKE ACTION 
We urge you to write to the North
Korean Ambassador to the UK on
Jang’s behalf and respectfully ask
for his release, using his Chinese
name, Zhang Wen Shi. We advise
that you keep the letter brief, do
not mention Release International
or express any political views and
limit the request to the following:
We request the return of Zhang
Wen Shi to China.
Address for Mailing:
Ambassador,
Embassy of the Democratic
People’s Republic of Korea,
73 Gunnersbury Ave,
London W5 4LP
This is the last photo of Kyung
Jae Kim before his arrest and
disappearance in September
2008. One day before the
19-year-old planned to escape
from North Korea, security
forces raided his home and
arrested him. The raid was
part of an operation to gather
Christians who had been
carrying the gospel secretly
into North Korea for many
years. Kim’s parents received
reports indicating that their
son had been sent to a prison
camp. His father has petitioned
ceaselessly for his release but
without success. It is estimated
that at least 30,000 Christians
are imprisoned in North Korea,
suffering inhumane conditions.
Please remember them in your
prayers.