Graham Meets High-Level North Korean Official

Christian Today reports that Franklin Graham met with North Korean Foreign Minister Pak Ui Chun on Wednesday, hoping to thaw relations between the government and aid agencies. Graham also offered a small sculpture as a gift to North Korean leader Kim Jong Il through the country's vice parliamentary speaker. Graham later visited a provincial hospital that his aid agency, Samaritan's Purse, and USAID had provided with a generator. According to Graham's spokespeople, this was the hospital's first source of electricity. "I'm going as a minister of Jesus Christ with a message of peace and that God loves each one of us regardless of our borders or politics," the evangelist said before departingon Tuesday.

Franklin Graham Makes 3rd Trip to North Korea

The Christian Post reports that Franklin Graham began his third meeting with North Korean leaders Tuesday in their country. The CEO of Samaritan's Purse is the firstAmerican aid agency leader to be allowed in the country since all U.S. humanitarian groups were forced to leave six month ago. "I believe it is important to make visits like this to help improve better relations and to have better understanding with each other," said Graham prior to leaving. "I'm going as a minister of Jesus Christ with a message of peace and that God loves each one of us regardless of our borders or politics." Five NGO groups providing food aid were kicked out of the country in March with no explanation, leaving many North Koreans to fare for themselves in the chronic food shortage.