Religious Atmosphere: The current religious composition is uncertain. Fourth generation Christian leaders estimate that there are as many as 500,000 Christians among North Korea's people. Traditional Korean religions may be practiced by up to a third of the country. Autonomous religious activities are almost non-existent while government-sponsored religious groups exist to provide the illusion of religious freedom.

Extremist Groups:

• No extremist groups have been cited for incidences of persecution in this country.

Government:

• The current dictator, Kim Jong Il, is known to allow the citizens of North Korea no other loyalties. The government of this country is known to use violence to crush opposition.
• The government recently re-opened a theological seminary and handpicked 12 students to study Christianity. The opening of the seminary, which features portraits of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il in the front of the room while placing Christ’s picture on the side, may have been opened in hopes to attracting more humanitarian aid from Christian groups.

Recent Actions:

• Ongoing — North Korea has been suffering a terrible famine. This has caused many especially Christians in China to risk huge fines by harboring starving North Koreans who have crossed over the border. A number of these have become Christians and so returned to North Korea.
      
• Ongoing – Since 1953 about 300,000 Christians have "disappeared." Anyone found with a Bible may be shot. It is estimated that 400 Christians were executed in 1999 alone.
      
• Ongoing – North Korean refugees continue to report the horrible abuse of Christian prisoners in North Korea. One woman reported seeing Christians killed when molten steel was poured on them. She also stated that Christian prisoners were often not given clothes and were treated like animals.
    
• May 24-26, 2002 - Six North Korean defectors were caught in Yunnan Province, China. They are currently being transported to northern China where they will be handed over to North Korean authorities. One of the defectors, Mr. Lee Hong-gang is a Christian whose family members were killed for their witness of Christ. It is believed that Mr. Lee and the others will be executed upon being returned to North Korea. One of the group is a 2-year-old boy whose mother has been granted asylum in South Korea. (CSW)
     
• December 2001 - Fifteen North Koreans were arrested in Inner Mongolia, China. They were then deported back to North Korea and undoubtedly put into labor camps. Four people helping them escape are still in prison in China. One of them, a North Korean who had gained South Korean citizenship, is in danger of being deported to North Korea as well. (CSW)
    
• 2000 – Younghee Lee was executed by firing squad in the market place of Moonsan in Hanmkyung North Province. She was accused of being a traitor to the Labour Party. Younghee had received the Lord after escaping to China in 1998. She had returned to N. Korea to preach the Gospel.
  
• December 1999 – Two Christian women were shot in HaeSan city on a fabricated charge of illegal smuggling. Two other Christians were also murdered in HamBuk province. One had his teeth broken because he continued to preach the gospel even as he was being carried off to be executed.
  
• October 1999 – Two Christians were shot to death in ChungJin prison. After much torture they had revealed the names of several Christian co-laborers. However, they did not deny the Lord even when martyred. Fortunately an Open Doors worker warned those whose names had been revealed.

• May 1999 — The government issued an open warning to its citizens that Christian missionaries must be "ferreted out" being the "tools of imperialism." It claimed that certain underground guerillas have been posing as missionaries.
  
• 1987-1992: Soon Ok Yi, claims she witnessed monthly execution of Christians while imprisoned during the time listed. During these executions, Christians were asked to deny their faith in Jesus and Heaven. If they refused, they were beaten to death.

Prisoners:

• One report estimates that 100,000 Christians are being held in labor camps where they face torture, starvation and death. Another report indicates that at least 6,000 Christians are being held in Prison #15 in the northern part of the country.

Suggested Actions You Might Take:

• Pray for the Christians of North Korea that they may be protected from harm and that the Christian message may be heard and received by all. Pray that the dictatorial stranglehold the communist party has had on North Korea would be broken. Pray also that the current famine would be used of God to open the government to allowing foreign aid in the area resulting both in the relief of hunger and more religious freedom.
• Contact the elected national officials (Senators, Congressman etc.) for your area as well as the U.S. State Department and express concern for the well being of the Christians in North Korea asking them to make an inquiry into their status.
• Please keep us informed of any replies or results you may receive! Contact ICC by email at ICC@persecution.org