But advocacy representatives say the topic of rights abuses could leverage talks. Sorely needed U.S. and U.N. food aid to the famine-plagued country should be made conditional on introducing human rights into North Korea.

North Korea would be more susceptible to foreign pressures as more abuses come to light, Shin says. A unified voice against abuses would not make conditions worse for the persecuted and ultimately would alleviate suffering, he says.

• Shin recommends concerned Christians write courteous letters of protest to North Korea's U.N. representative:

Permanent Representative of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to the United Nations
820 Second Ave., 13th Floor
New York, NY 10017

• Human-rights advocates suggest writing your U.S. senators and district Congressional representatives. Also write to Colin Powell at this address:

Department of State
2201 C Street, N.W.
Suite 7276
Washington, DC 20520

• Contact Shin (dougeshin@yahoo.com) to contribute to refugee relief. For information about human rights in North Korea, see www.chosunjournal.com.

• Pray for the return of religious freedom to North Korea, an end to the suffering, and the safety of refugees.