|PIC1|A charity supporting oppressed believers around the world has warned that persecution against Christians is set to worsen in North Korea in 2010.

Practising Christianity is currently illegal in the reclusive communist country and Christians can face imprisonment, torture and even execution for their faith.

Release International works through local Christian partners to support North Korean refugees fleeing to China or South Korea, by providing pastoral care, safe houses, and Christian literature and Bibles.

Partner Tim Peters said North Korea was one of the world's worst trouble spots for Christians. In the latest edition of the Release magazine, he said he had received reports of worsening persecution against Christians as the North Korean economy continues to collapse.

"2010 is forecast to be a year of tremendous hardship and food shortages since the country's harvest in 2009 was a poor one," he said.

Kang Cheol Hwan is a former prisoner who converted to Christianity after finding refuge in South Korea. He told Release the situation was getting worse in North Korea.

"It is like a giant prison camp has crossed the land. Starvation spreads out over the entire nation; it has become the norm," he said.

"I lived in Yoduk prison camp for 10 years; I was treated like an animal there. I had watched many people die from starvation and beatings.

"I witnessed open executions and watched helplessly as people died miserably.

"These fearful scenes have not left my mind."

Mary, whose surname was withheld by Release for security reasons, is another Christian refugee from North Korea now living in China. She secretly delivers food parcels into North Korea together with Bible verses.

In one month alone, she delivered 100 packages containing sausages, bread, soap and a toothbrush, together with the hand-written Bible verses.

Release said people living in the border area, including her uncle Mr Lee, had come to know Christ as a result of her visits.

|PIC2|Mr Lee, whose first name was withheld by Release for security reasons, told the organisation that March, April and May were the hardest months for North Koreans.

"Those without food must eat grass and catch frogs. At the market there is meat, but it's not affordable," he said.

Release said Mary was taking a terrible risk by delivering the packages.

She told the organisation: "God has poured His love upon me so I cannot stop my work."

Release partners have given Mr Lee an mp3 player containing Christian material, which he has to keep hidden. He told Release he tries to memorise as much Scripture as he can.

"Pray that North Korea will open its door to Christian activity," he said.

Release appealed to Christians to pray for believers there.

"Christians found to have Christian literature, or holding Bible studies and prayer meetings are subject to imprisonment – and so are their families," it said.

Release is urging Christians to pray that God will restore a just government to North Korea, for the thousands of Christians who are forced to practise their faith in secret, and for Christians who make the dangerous journey through China to share the love of Christ with refugees.

The organisation fears that the plight of Christians in Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan is also set to take a turn for the worse in 2010.

Christians are still waiting for the perpetrators of deadly attacks carried out in Gojra, Pakistan, to be brought to justice. Some 50 houses were destroyed and eight Christians killed in the attacks in August.

Release and its partners are pressing the Pakistani government to repeal the controversial blasphemy laws, which they say are being used to falsely accuse Christians and stir up religious hatred.

One Release partner said Kyrgyzstan was about to become the most dangerous country for Christians in Central Asia in 2010 thanks to a new law that requires every local church to have at least 200 members before it can be officially registered.

The partner, who was unnamed for security reasons, said: "This means that 95 per cent of independent and evangelical churches could be forced to close and their property be confiscated."

Release International serves persecuted Christians in 30 countries, supporting pastors and Christian prisoners, as well as their families, supplying Christian literature and Bibles, and seeking justice.