Despite the oppression of Christians in North Korea, its leader Kim Jong-UN decided to invite the Pope to Pyongyang.
This unexpected proposal to the Pope will personally send moon Jae-In, who will visit the Vatican next week in the framework of the working trip to Europe, reported the press Secretary of administration of the President of South Korea Kim Yu Kiem.
«President moon will visit the Vatican on 17 and 18 October, to re-pay their blessing and support peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, — said the representative of the Blue house. — At a meeting with Pope Francis he will give assurances Kim a warm welcome, which will be rendered to him (the Pope. — USA.one) in Pyongyang».
In September, Kim has already told his South Korean counterpart that dad in North Korea will be greeted «with enthusiasm».
Between the Vatican and Pyongyang has no official diplomatic relations. The Constitution of Korea guarantees «freedom of religion», but, according to the report, charitable human rights organization Open Doors USA, North Korea heads the World Watch List — a list of countries where Christians are persecuted. But the UN report says that Christianity is regarded as «a serious threat» to national security, reports the New York Times.
So, in 2013, Korean-American missionary Kenneth BAE, who conducted evangelistic tours in North Korea, was sentenced to 15 years in prison on charges of «anti-government» crimes. Released in 2014 for health reasons.
In 2000, the father of Kim Jong-UN — Kim Jong-Il — was invited to visit North Korea Pope John Paul II, who said that it would be a «miracle» if he could go there. However, the «miracle» happened — the visit never took place.
Recall that in this year, Kim visited the historic summit with the participation of the President of the United States Donald trump and 3 meetings with representatives of South Korea at the highest level.
