Voice of the Martyrs (VOM), an interdenominational ministry that’s been launching helium-filled balloons with Christian messages into North Korea for years, is nowadays launching a global campaign to free of charge a North Korean man who is awaiting public execution for the crime of being a Christian

Son Jong Nam is a former North Korean Army officer who by way of a life-changing series of events became an underground evangelist in North Korea Son Jong Nam has been held in a North Korean death row jail cell and repeatedly tortured in the capital city of North Korea The North Korean government is planning his public execution as an example to the North Korean people today Todd Nettleton, director of media development for VOM, describes North Korea as a 1-man dictatorship with communist influence, 1 of the most repressive and isolated regimes in the world that denies every single type of human proper to its citizens He continued, All religions have been harshly repressed in North Korea Thousands of Christians have been murdered since the Korean War In 1953, there had been an estimated 300,000 Christians; having said that, the number is significantly lower nowadays Christians need to practice their faith in deep secrecy and are in constant danger U.S Senator and presidential candidate Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) has joined VOM in the campaign to totally free Son Jon Nam Brownback is, a noted supporter of human rights for North Korean refugees Brownback sent letters last week in conjunction with Senators Baucus (D-Mont.), Durbin (D-Ill.), Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Vitter (R-La.), asking U.S Secretary of State Dr Condoleezza Rice and U.N Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to take actions to secure the release of the Christian prisoner In his letter to Secretary of State Rice and Secretary General Ban, Sen Brownback wrote: Future cooperation and engagement with North Korea will be far a lot more challenging if its leaders continue to persecute their own individuals for religious views The United States has made political and religious freedoms significant elements in its diplomatic relations, and we are gravely concerned about abuses of such fundamental rights in North Korea The interdenominational ministry VOM is also calling on Americans and other people to write letters and send emails on Son Jong Nam’s behalf Those who wish to participate can go to the VOM web web site www.prisoneralert.com, and can write a letter of support and encouragement to Son Jon Nam Letters will be mailed to the North Korean delegation to the United Nations The cover letter will ask the North Korean government to spare Son Jong Nam’s life Whilst there are 3 churches in Pyongyang, the capital city of North Korea, VOM’s Nettleton said they are only for show Sources: International Ministry Launches Worldwide Campaign to Save North Korean Facing Death for Christian Faith, Christian NewsWire, July 10, 2007, http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/157873599.html .