Read North Koreans Reportedly Face Execution for Contact with South Korean Missionary at Fox News.
"Thirty-three North Koreans will likely be executed after being charged with attempting to overthrow the repressive regime of Kim Jong-un. The means of their alleged treachery? Receiving money to set up 500 underground churches from a South Korean missionary who has since been jailed by Pyongyang.
"The South Korean newspaper The Chosun Ilbo reported Wednesday that North Korea watchers believe that the harsh punishments have been ordered by Kim Jong-un to combat a wave of dissatisfaction with the regime's isolationist "juche" doctrine.
"The new revelations come less than one week after Kim Jung-wook, a South Korean Baptist missionary, held a press conference at which he apologized for committing "anti-state" crimes and appealed for his release from North Korean custody.
Please read North Koreans Face Execution for Contact with Missionary at The Chosunilbo.
"North Koreans who converted to Christianity or received money from a South Korean missionary apparently face execution. A source said Sunday 33 North Koreans will be executed in a secret cell at the State Security Department on charges of attempting to overthrow the regime by receiving money to set up 500 underground churches.
"Baptist missionary Kim Jung-wook was arrested in the North last year for allegedly trying to establish underground churches.
"Experts believe the North Koreans to be punished more harshly than usual since North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has ordered stepped up efforts to prevent the influx of capitalist practices and beliefs and held mass rallies to reinforce the North's "juche" or self-reliance doctrine.
"In a press conference on Feb. 27, North Korean authorities aired interviews with five North Koreans who claimed to have met the missionary and received money from him. They said Kim Jung-wook told them that when the regime collapses, a church must be built on the spot in Pyongyang where a statue of nation founder Kim Il-sung stands.
"They also said that they received money from South Korean agents."
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