1North Korea

If your Christian faith is discovered in North Korea, you could be killed on the spot. If you aren’t killed, you will be deported to a labour camp and treated as a political criminal. You will be punished with years of hard labour that few survive. And North Korean authorities are likely to round up your extended family and punish them too, even if your family members aren’t Christians.

Recognising any deity beyond the Kim family is considered a threat to the country’s leadership. “Anti-reactionary thought laws” were enacted in December 2020. These made it even clearer that being a Christian or owning a Bible is a serious crime and will be severely punished.

Even North Korean citizens who have escaped the country aren’t safe. Refugees in other countries, particularly China, are at risk of being rounded up and sent back to appalling punishments. Chinese spies work with North Korean authorities to return refugees, including Christians. If it’s discovered that a North Korean has become a Christian, or has heard the Gospel or come into contact with Christians, then they will be singled out for severe punishment.

Meet Joo Min

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

Joo Min (name changed), a believer in North Korea.

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 North Korean refugees at safe houses in China, and training through radio broadcasting from outside the country.