North Korea & Christian Persecution

QUICK FACTS

Leader: Kim Jong-Un
Government: Communist dictatorship

Population: 25 million (300,000 Christians)
Main Religion: Atheism/traditional beliefs

Persecution Level: Extreme
Source of persecution: Dictatorial paranoia

OVERVIEW OF NORTH KOREA

For the 13th consecutive year, North Korea is ranked No. 1 on the World Watch List of the 50 countries where persecution is most extreme. The god-like worship of the leader, Kim Jong-Un, and his predecessors leaves little room for any other religions and Christians face unimaginable pressure in every sphere of life. Meeting with other Christians is virtually impossible. Anyone discovered engaging in unauthorized religious activity is subject to arrest, arbitrary detention, disappearance, torture and/or execution. Those Christians who attempt to return to North Korea from China are sentenced to life in prison or executed. Leader Kim Jong-Un purged 10,000 North Koreans last year, including some Christians.

PRAYER POINTS

For the 50,000-70,000 Christians imprisoned in labor camps; ask God to sustain them
For the many Christians who don't have enough food to survive and are forced to flee to China
That Christians may stay strong in their faith under unrelenting pressure from government spies