North Korea has once again been ranked as the world’s worst country for Christian persecution by the Open Doors Mission, maintaining the top spot for the third consecutive year. This marks the 23rd time the nation has claimed this position since the organization began publishing its Christian persecution report in 1993.

On January 15, the North Korean Mission Research Institute under Open Doors Mission presented a report titled "Concerns and Prayer About North Korea’s Persecution of Christianity" during a conference held at the International Conference Room of SaRang Church. The report emphasized the ongoing and intensifying religious persecution in North Korea, focusing on legislative and institutionalized mechanisms targeting Christians, as well as broader human rights violations.

Persecution Enshrined in Law

The report detailed three key laws—the Rebel Thought and Culture Elimination Act, Youth Culture Security Act, and Pyongyang Culture Language Protection Act—that enforce harsh penalties against religious practices, including Christianity.

• Rebel Thought and Culture Elimination Act: Article 29 stipulates a sentence of over five years for those accused of spreading "superstitions" (a term encompassing all religions) and mandates life imprisonment or even the death penalty for distributing religious materials.

• Youth Culture Security Act: Article 41 prohibits young people from engaging in 16 banned activities, including "religion and superstitious activities," equating them with violent crimes such as murder and drug trafficking.

These laws illustrate the regime’s systematic effort to suppress religious beliefs that could challenge its ideological control.

Documented Incidents of Persecution

The Ministry of Unification’s 2024 North Korean Human Rights Report documented several cases of Christian persecution:

• In 2017, 12 residents in North Hamgyong Province were arrested for receiving aid from South Korean missionary groups; two were sent to political prison camps, and others were publicly executed.

• In 2019, a secret church in Pyongyang was discovered, leading to the public execution of five individuals and the imprisonment of seven others in political camps.

• In 2022, a resident in Hwanghae Province received a 15-year sentence after a Bible was discovered during a house search.

Defector testimonies reveal that repatriated individuals who engaged with Christian groups or carried Bibles during their time in China faced severe punishments. One witness described a fellow prisoner being placed in solitary confinement and marked for execution for possessing a Bible.

Forced Repatriation and Intensifying Scrutiny

Since the resumption of forced repatriations in 2023 following the COVID-19 pandemic, reports indicate increased surveillance of returnees. According to the North Korean-focused outlet Daily NK, individuals with any connection to Christian groups or teachings were sent to political prison camps. By late 2023, specialized officers had reportedly been deployed to interrogate repatriates about their religious activities.

The report warned that persecution is likely to escalate further due to the rising idolization of Kim Jong-un. Since 2021, the title of "leader" has been increasingly used to describe Kim, a trend that has intensified in recent years. The report noted that the strengthening of Kim’s cult of personality will inevitably lead to harsher repression.

Call for Action and Solidarity

The report also addressed the prolonged detention of South Korean citizens in North Korea, calling for their immediate release.

"The Korean Church must not ignore the suffering of our brothers and sisters in the North," the report urged. "It is crucial to acknowledge the ongoing repression and violence against Christians as a stark reality and to stand in solidarity with those who face unjust persecution."

Remarks from Open Doors Leadership

Kim Sung-tae, chairman of the Korea Open Doors Mission, highlighted North Korea’s resistance to external influence. "North Korea’s emphasis on Juche ideology and self-reliance isolates it from global cooperation, except for interactions with China and Russia," he said. "China’s Christian population of 80 million and Russia’s 5 million Protestants have shown interest in North Korea’s plight, and churches in Kursk, Russia, continue their evangelical efforts despite significant challenges."

Kim noted that the International Open Doors Mission has been engaged in North Korean outreach for over 40 years. "It is estimated that over 100,000 underground Christians are actively practicing their faith within North Korea, with a total of approximately 400,000 believers both inside and outside the country. This enduring faith is a testament to God’s work," he said.

*This article is a revised translation of an article originally published by Christian Today.