Eight South Korean Christians attended services in Pyongyang's two churches on Easter Sunday, marking the first inter-Korean church service. The North's delegation from the Korean Christian Federation will be the first group of Christians to be allowed to take part in a church service south of the 38th parallel. The organisation in the South, The National Unification Missionary Congress for the Great Jubilee of the year 2000, has promised to send the North equipment and supplies for noodle factories, which are popping up in almost every village as Pyongyang looks for alternative means to feed its people. Spokesman for South Korea's Christian Congress said the North's Christian Federation would receive other supplies. South Korean Christian organisations have been steadily sending food, money and supplies to North Korea for 20 years.
Most deliveries travel via China.
Pyongyang takes an ambiguous stance on religious activity. In 1992, former president Kim Il-sung formally permitted some expression of religion. Even simple acts of prayer have reportedly resulted in life in prison and executions. But the North's religious groups are required to promote propaganda in carefully orchestrated public rallies. Christian groups have also been exploited as vehicles for aid.