March 18, 2016 – Today I stepped in North Korea.
As part of the Global Meeting of the Baptist Bible Fellowship International, we were invited to tour DMZ & Panmunjom. The DMZ (demilitarized zone) is the 155 mile border between North and South Korea. Panmunjom is the most forward location in the DMZ that can be visited by people in the south. Our tour included personal comments by a defector from North Korea.
A little history: Korea was at one time under a kingdom. Our guide was a descendant of one of the kings. In 1910 it came under control of the Japanese. Following World War 2, the Soviet Union and the United States divided the country along the 38th parallel (longitudinal line around the world). The Soviets would control the north and the U.S. would control the south. This eventually led to the Korean War in 1950. The war ended in a cease-fire. Yet, these two countries are still at war. The DMZ was created to divide the two warring nations. Panmunjom is a military installation that allows North and South to meet.
South Korean soldier guarding door to North Korea.
We were able to look over into North Korea. The difference in the two sides is remarkable. The North has been under dictators and the country lives in extreme poverty. South Korea is very beautiful, but North Korea has few trees and vegetation because they need to use the wood for fuel. There were few cars because of gas shortage. Even the farmers did not use much farm machinery. Because of malnutrition, even the men do not grow to an ordinary height.
The guide who had defected from North Korea had an interesting story. We were not allowed to take her picture because she and her family could be in danger if ever discovered. She saved for 3 years to be able to purchase her way out through a broker in China. I don’t know how much I should put in my blog (because North Korea scours the internet for stories about them), buy hers was a very sad story. She had to leave family members. But once she got into South Korea, they gave her medical, educational, and financial help to get her life started.
Since we were a group of Christians, we asked her about Christianity in North Korea. She said the ruler, Kim Jong-un, is the god of North Korea. All religions are illegal – Christians, Buddhists, or Hindus. Missionaries would be killed.
Looking into North Korea. You can see a North Korea guard on the steps in the background.
The experience at the border was intense. We weren’t allowed to wave at the guards or even point to North Korea. We could only get out to take pictures in two places. We had to walk in a straight line to the building and then back out. Once inside the blue building, we were able to ‘step across’ into North Korea. On the road there were walls and bridges filled with dynamite that could be detonated to stop tanks in case of an invasion. There were also fields filled with landmines. It was sobering to know that we were in the middle of a divided people.
Our other guide was a South Korean. She was passionate about seeing her country unified again. It is pretty sad that a people with the same language and history are not allowed to see each other. The observatory provides a place for North Koreans who have defected to go to look over to their land and think about their relatives. Many call it the ‘Homesick Tower.’
I can’t help but make 3 life observations from my visit today.
1- Family fights are ugly. Even though North and South Korea are two separate countries, they are one people – Koreans. They speak the same language, have the same skin, and have the same history. But they have been at war for a long time. Don’t let pride or another person keep you from trying to get along with your family or church. Maybe you can’t see how bad it is, but others can. Whatever you can do to live at peace with those you love is a step in the right direction.
I’m standing next to a figure of average height of N. Korean military. I am 6 feet tall. Figure is 5’2″.
2- Socialism doesn’t work. North Korea defines itself as socialist-communist. Yet, South Korea is a democracy. After the same people have lived 50 years under each political viewpoint, it isn’t hard to tell which you would want to live in – South Korea. Christianity is not socialism. According to John Piper, “Socialism borrows the compassionate aims of Christianity in meeting people’s needs while rejecting the Christian expectation that this compassion not be coerced or forced. Socialism, therefore, gets its attractiveness at certain points in history where people are drawn to the entitlements that Socialism brings, and where people are ignorant or forgetful of the coercion and the force required to implement it.” (See How Should Christians Think About Socialism)
3- Pride will destroy everything valuable. I’m sure North Korean ruler, Kim Jong-un, thinks he is doing good. The Bible says, “every way of man is right in his own eyes” (Proverbs 21:2). But his pride will not allow him to ask for help, or help his people, or stop the violence. Don’t let your pride keep you from owning up to your weaknesses and sins. God will forgive if you confess and repent. Also, your pride can keep you from making changes in your life. Humble yourself and turn to God for wisdom and guidance. It’s amazing the good things that happen to you when your pride is not your primary motivation.
You can read daily blogs of my missions trip to Korea and Cambodia at: Asia Adventure – My Missions Trip 2016