Washington, USA - Evangelical pastor Rick Warren has been invited to preach this summer to about 15,000 Christians in North Korea.
Warren, author of the best-selling book "The Purpose-Driven Life," told about 5,000 worshipers at his Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., that he would make the trip as part of a nearly 40-day journey to meet with the leaders of 13 countries.
He said the North Korean government would allow him to preach in a stadium seating 15,000 but that he could preach in a larger venue if he could fill the seats.
Since 2001, the State Department has designated North Korea a "country of particular concern" for religious freedom violations. The communist regime prohibits citizens from belonging to unauthorized religious groups. Believers who proselytize or have ties to evangelical groups in China are arrested, tortured or executed, a 2005 State Department report said.
"I know they're going to use me," Warren said, responding to a question about whether he was concerned that the invitation could be a ruse to draw out Christians so that the government could punish them.
"So I'm going to use them."