The Pope, The Tyrant And The Missionaries

A key trend I intend to pursue on this blog is the incredible spread of Christianity through various sects across both the Global South and NE Asia (Korea & China). (Hidden Unity #1: Religion.)

Over the last century, South Koreans have embraced Christianity in extraordinary fashion, for reasons including but not limited to its connection with nationalism, independence from the Japanese, human rights, democracy and the striking similarity of key tenets of the faith with Korean tradition. Nearly 1/3 of Koreans consider themselves Christians in the 21st Century, and South Korea has more missionaries spreading the Gospel around the world than any nation except America (about 16,000 missionaries, with significant numbers in the Middle East).

In a time of serious tension within the South Korea-US alliance, this trend favors potential better relations in spite of the litany of short-term (mainstream South Korean rejection of Pres. Bush and his policies, political and economic animosity amongst some South Korean elites towards America) and long-term (the emergence of China and closer ties on many levels between South Korea and China) negative factors dragging on the relationship. Relationships between Korean and American churches and groups should be energetically explored and developed, with greater cooperation especially on issues of religious and human rights in places like North Korea, Burma and the Philippines.

What does this all mean for the lethal regime armed to the teeth with nuclear weapons, missiles and a massive army that shrouds in darkness the forgotten people of North Korea?

At the moment, the US seems intent on pursuing better relations with North Korea because of the nuclear issue re: the latest agreement regarding good behavior. The USG is not interested in rocking boats, but Christian leaders in South Korea and the US should be. There exists a hopeful window for common ground between them and others, especially the Vatican, to pursue a policy of engagement and advocacy for North Korea’s people on a level not yet approached before.

Such a campaign should include an increased Papal presence on the issue; more than a letter, more like a Papal visit to both South & North Korea. His leadership and focus on the issue (as well as that of popular, influential figures like Rick Warren who are also pursuing action on the issue could help push reticent American political figures to support cultural exchanges, humanitarian programs and a crackdown on rogue elements within the State Department and other DC cesspools that could lead to the further weakening of the regime from within. Efforts to offer extensive education and opportunities to North Koreans who escape like those proposed by Andrei Lankov could also be pursued by missionary groups on the ground in South Korea, Mongolia, Thailand, Australia, America and Japan. Not only would it be a probable political boost to go along with China’s own training of defectors, but its a conscious moral effort to address a monstrous tragedy.

An inter-faith drive to speak out on behalf of the North Koreans would also set another useful precedent for action to defuse future tensions between Catholics, Anglicans, Presbyterians, Baptists and other sects in places like Brazil & South Africa, where surging sects gain converts often at the expense of formerly powerful institutions (i.e. the Catholic Church in Brazil).

Supplemental Reading:
PBS Online News Hour Report On Korean Evangelism
Andrei Lankov on N. Korean Christians
FP Memo “How To Topple Kim Jong Ill (Andrei Lankov)
Robert D. Kaplan “When North Korea Falls”
Thomas PM Barnett argues in many posts for a “hard kill” using better relations with China and others to bring down the regime from within. On this, I don’t see why the USG can’t pursue the “hard kill” while Christian groups, South Koreans and others pursue a “soft kill”. I don’t see the efforts canceling each other out.
Josh @ One Free Korea is one of many deeply intelligent individuals who blog about the issue with a passion that makes them a must-read.