Most all of us know that in various places of the world, Christians are not free to worship God and are often persecuted for their beliefs. Yet nowhere today is this fact made more real than in North Korea. Ruled by the iron fist of Communism, this country is the worst persecutor of Christianity on the planet, a status it has held for more than six years. For over fifty years this country has been purging their nation of all Christians. In the days of the Roman Empire, followers of Christ were thrown to lions for sport. In North Korea, they simply settle for the fire squad or slow death in horrible prison conditions.
The 23 million people in its borders are taught there is not God; there is zero tolerance for any other views. It is required that all worship the deceased former president, Kim Il Sung, and his son, who is the current ruler of North Korea. Those who refuse to conform face the consequences.
No one knows how many Christians remain in North Korea. We do know, however, that they suffer terribly for their faith. The mere fact of owning a Bible can bring the death sentence. In 1974, a North Korean newspaper said that the last of the Christians had been killed. During road construction, they had discovered twenty-nine Christians who had hidden inside a cave, where they were forced to live in hiding for almost two decades. When they were discovered, the government officials immediately hung four of them. The rest were told to lie on the ground, and than they ordered a steam roller to crush these followers of Christ. To maximize the pain, the roller started at their feet and moved slowly up. But the Christians remained firm in Christ, and died singing to God. Truly these were “of whom the world was not worthy” (Hebrews 11:38).
One Chinese woman, whom we will call Roli, does secret ministry inside North Korea. In 2005 she told this story: “Just this year a [Christian] family was arrested. The parents were taken to one prison and the children to another. Officials burned their house down. I helped two children (a son and daughter) of one family to get into China for more [Bible] training. But they were caught returning to North Korea. They were charged with ‘treason’ and becoming ‘Christians,’ and have been publicly executed. This is the saddest for me. I was very close to this family. I am sorry it is difficult for me to share more. So many have been arrested, so many killed.” Despite these incredible obstacles, Roli continues her ministry to this day, regardless of the great danger.
In conclusion, pray for the perseverance of our brothers and sisters in North Korea, that they would remain true in these trying times. Allow me to end with this quote from woman named Soon Ok Lee: “In the years I was in prison, I saw many believers die. Yet they never, never denied the God who is in heaven. All they had to do was say they don’t believe in religion and they would have been released. I didn’t understand what made them not fear death. Their unbelievable faith brought a big question to my heart: What did they see, and what am I missing?” After she was released, Soon escaped to China, where she met a man who gave her a Bible. Today she is one of the “heaven people,” the derogatory name given to Christians by the North Korea government.
Reagan Schrock, GOA blog manager
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