Korea

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife SEOUL/PYONGYANG (BosNewsLife)-- A South Korea-based Christian mission group says one of its workers responsible for contacts with underground churches and rescuing Christians in North Korea has disappeared and may have been kidnapped by North Korean secret service agents. In a statement obtained by BosNewsLife, Serving Life International (SLI) said it was concerned about the whereabouts of Deacon Kim WonHo.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (BosNewsLife)-- A young American missionary, who has reportedly been detained for illegally entering North Korea on Christmas Day, was inspired to go there by a biography about the "first Christian martyr" of present day North Korea, suggested an e-mail obtained by BosNewsLife Sunday, December 27.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service with Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife PYONGYANG/SEOUL (BosNewsLife)-- There was concern Thursday, May 30, over the whereabouts of an American evangelical missionary after North Korea confirmed it had sentenced him to 15 years of hard labor for alleged "hostile acts" against the Communist-run isolated state. Pae Jun-ho, known in the U.S. as Kenneth Bae, was tried on April 30, the state news agency KCNA said.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service SEOUL/PYONGYANG (BosNewsLife)-- An American, who has been linked to a Protestant group spreading Christianity, was expected to spend New Year behind bars in North Korea on charges of "hostile acts against the republic".

By BosNewsLife Asia Service SEOUL, KOREA (BosNewsLife)-- A five-day visit by Pope Francis to South Korea has highlighted the plight of persecuted Christians in the region, including two detained Americans and a South Korean, who have been held in neighboring North Korea for their Christian activities, activists said.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos BEIJING, CHINA (BosNewsLife)-- A frail elderly Korean-American aid worker is awaiting trial in China on what supporters believe are trumped up charges linked to his Christian activities on the border with North Korea.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos SEOUL/PYONGYANG (BosNewsLife)-- Christian rights activists used the 60th anniversary of the end of the Korean War on Saturday, July 27, to express concern over the plight of at least hundreds of thousands of Christians and other inmates in "political prison camps" across North Korea.

Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife with BosNewsLife Asia Service SEOUL/PYONGYANG (BosNewsLife)-- Churches around the world were to participate in the International Day of Prayer for North Korea Monday, April 27, shortly after two American Christian bands received awards for their performance in the isolated nation, organizers said.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service with BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (BosNewsLife)-- A 28-year-old American Christian missionary has entered North Korea to urge leader Kim Jong Il to repent and release political prisoners and others persecuted for their faith, fellow activists said Saturday December 26.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos BEIJING/SEOUL (BosNewsLife)-- Christian rights activists have urged China not to forcibly repatriate ten North Korean defectors, including a four-year-old child, who were detained by police in Shenyang city.