NORTH KOREA: Released After Twelve Years in Prison

Source: Voice of the Martyrs Australia, Voice of the Martyrs Korea, Voice of the Martyrs Canada

A Voice of the Martyrs partner has reported the release of Deacon Jang Moon Seok, also known by his Chinese name Zhang Wen Shi, who was imprisoned in North Korea and returned home to China on 5 November. Deacon Jang, who ministered to North Koreans in Changbai, China, alongside martyred Pastor Han Chung-Ryeol, served more than 12 years of a 15-year sentence.

Deacon Jang is an ethnically Korean Chinese citizen who was kidnapped in November 2014 from China and put in a North Korean prison. Fifteen months after Deacon Jang’s kidnapping and arrest, Pastor Han was lured from his home and stabbed to death in Changbai.

Though it is illegal to cross into China without permission, North Koreans often visit Chinese border towns to purchase goods to resell in North Korea, seeking medicine or other help, and conducting business. Near Changbai, North Koreans gather herbs on the North Korean side of the mountain, then take them into Changbai to sell at the market and bring the money back with them to North Korea, sources report.

Deacon Jang regularly hosted these North Korean visitors in his home for days and weeks at a time before they returned to North Korea, giving them warm clothing, feeding them and providing things they might need for their return to North Korea. He saw this as his Christian duty to welcome the stranger, clothe the naked and care for the sick. As a Believer, he also shared about his faith to those who were willing.

A number of these North Koreans accepted the message and became Christians. Some returned to Deacon Jang’s home repeatedly for more Bible training, and Deacon Jang and Pastor Han also taught them how to share their faith with their loved ones. Their goal was always to see North Koreans return home.

Throughout the years, VOMK and its ministry partners organized letter-writing campaigns, urging the North Korean government to free Deacon Jang. Finally, after more than a decade of captivity, the believer was released from prison on November 5th and permitted to return home to China. Praise the Lord for his release and the work he has done in China and North Korea.