WORLD WATCH LIST

North Korea

Being discovered as a Christian in North Korea can be a death sentence.

“I know the risks involved. If I am caught, I could end up in a labour camp, paying a heavy price for being a Christian now.”

– Joo Min

Country
Profile

Region: Asia
Sources of persecution: Dictatorial Paranoia
Population: 26,245,000
Christian population: 400,000
Religions: Agnosticism
Leader: Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un
Score: 98

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What’s Life Like For Christians?

Recognising any deity beyond the ruling family is considered a threat to North Korea’s leadership. If discovered, Christians could be deported to a labour camp, which few survive, or killed on the spot. North Korean authorities are likely to round up their extended family and punish them too, even if they aren’t believers.

It’s impossible to gather for worship or prayer. Even when done in secret, there’s great risk. “Anti- reactionary thought laws” enacted in December 2020 made it even clearer that being a Christian or owning a Bible is a serious crime and will be severely punished.

If it’s discovered that a North Korean has become a Christian, has heard the gospel, or come into contact with Christians, they are singled out for severe punishment.

While a handful of churches exist for visitors in the capital, Pyongyang, these serve for “propaganda purposes only.

In early 2024, the government announced stricter regulations and crackdowns, which increased terror among North Koreans after 47 teenagers (30 of them under 17) were publicly executed for violating them. Most citizens also suffer hunger and desperate need.

Who Is Most Vulnerable To Persecution?

All Christians in North Korea are vulnerable to extreme persecution at the hands of the country’s totalitarian regime. Recent moves to fortify the border region with China has made it even more challenging to escape.

North Korean refugees who have made it to China aren’t safe either, and risk being discovered and sent back to appalling punishments. Chinese spies work with North Korean authorities to return refugees, including Christians.

PRAY FOR NORTH KOREA

– For God to give North Korean Christians eyes to see His light in the darkness.

– Ask God to make a way for secret believers to worship with other Christians.

– That God will refresh courageous believers with His peace.

What Does Open Doors Do To Help?

Through secret networks outside the country, Open Doors’ secret workers are helping around 100,000 North Korean believers by providing vital food and aid, shelter and discipleship training for refugees at safe houses in China, and training through radio broadcasting from outside the country.