ABOUT NORTH KOREA
- Leader:Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un
- Government:Communist Dictatorship
- Population:25,405,000 (300,000 Christians)
- Main Religion:Atheism, Traditional Beliefs
- Persecution Level:Extreme
- Source of Persecution:Communist Oppression, Dictatorial Paranoia
Once again, North Korea is ranked as the most oppressive place in the world for Christians, #1 on the World Watch List. In this totalitarian communist state, Christians are forced to hide their faith completely from government authorities, neighbors and often, even their own spouses and children. Due to ever-present surveillance, many pray with eyes open, and gathering for praise or fellowship is practically impossible. Worship of the ruling Kim family is mandated for all citizens, and those who don’t comply (including Christians) are arrested, imprisoned, tortured or killed. Entire Christian families are imprisoned in hard labor camps, where unknown numbers die each year from torture, beatings, overexertion and starvation. Those who attempt to flee to South Korea through China risk execution or life imprisonment, and those who stay behind often fare no better.
Through local partners, Open Doors is serving Christians in North Korea by providing them with emergency relief aid, including food, medicine and clothes, as well as Bibles, books and other discipleship materials. Open Doors partners in China also provide shelter and aid for Christians who have fled the country, as well as training for those who wish to return to North Korea for ministry.
RECENT NEWS FROM NORTH KOREA
Open Doors supporter, Mike McElroy, wrote in to tell us about how God laid North Korea on his heart while living in China and visiting North Korea. We always welcome stories about how God is moving in the lives of our readers. + READ MORE
There are many explanations for how Christianity takes hold in closed countries. In some cases, faith has been passed on for generations by families whose ancestors trusted Jesus prior to the country coming under oppressive rule. + READ MORE
North Korean prison camps as bad or worse than Nazi youth camps. + READ MORE
More than twenty years ago, a Christian prisoner in a Russian labor camp received thousands of letters of encouragement thanks to the effort of one man. Up until a few weeks ago, I didn’t know much about Dan Wooding, the journalist who launched this letter-writing campaign. But recently, when Dan stopped by the Open Doors […] + READ MORE
It’s clear as Christians we are called to pray for the nation of North Korea, but what’s less clear is what we should pray. + READ MORE
PRAYER POINTS FOR NORTH KOREA
- Pray for North Korean believers who are languishing in prison camps, and for the proclamation of the gospel both in and outside the prison walls.
- Also, pray that Christians in the country would have access to Bibles and fellowship
- Pray that God would open Kim Jong-Un’s eyes to the surpassing glory of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
