North Korea 2
February 12th

“The Lord has been a refuge for North Korea!”
You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat. For the breath of the ruthless is like a storm driving against a wall(Isaiah 25:4,NIV).

》 Country Profile

Continent | East Asia
Population | 26 million
Area | 120,538㎢ Located between China and South Korea in East Asia.
Capital City | Pyongyang (3.13 million)
People Groups | Total 5 groups (Korean 99.8%, Chinese 0.2%) 
People Groups Unreached | 2 (99.3% of the population)
Offical Language(s) | Korean 
Total languages ​​| 5  
Bible translations | Completed 4
Religion | Christian 1.7% (Protestant 0.06%, independent church 1.4%), Non-Religious 68.8%, Ethnic religion 16.1%, other 2.9% Evangelical 1.6% 410,000 people

》 About North Korea

North Korea has maintained its position as the worst country for Christian persecution, holding the top spot on the World Watch List for Christian persecution for 20 consecutive years. However this was not always the case, In 1907, Pyongyang was called the “Jerusalem of the East”, was the center of a Christian revival in Korea, and foreign missionaries were very active during that time.
During the Japanese occupation, some churches fell away because they were forced to worship at Shinto shrines. After liberation from Japan and the rise of communism, Christians were harshly persecuted, and public churches disappeared, leading to the birth of the underground church. Kim Il-sung, the first North Korean leader, used Christian elements to build a policy of self-deification. After his death, his son Kim Jong-il took over and added the belief that Kim Il-sung was an eternal leader, almost like a god. Since the founding of North Korea, religion was defined as “the opium of the people” and was heavily repressed.
In 1988, for propaganda purposes, the government built two Protestant churches, but there is no true religious freedom. Anyone found with a Bible or identified as a Christian can be sent to labor camps or even executed. It is estimated that about 100,000 Christians are currently in these camps. Despite the danger, Christianity is still spreading secretly in North Korea.
In 2020, Kim Jong-un’s government created the “Anti-Reactionary Thought Law” to stop people from being influenced by the outside world. Anyone who watches or shares foreign content, like South Korean movies, news, or Bibles, is punished. Even people who don’t report such activities face harsh penalties.

North Korea’s economy is unique because it hasn’t adopted capitalism. All land is owned by the state. After the 1990s famine, the government stopped giving out food, so people now rely on markets for survival. The country’s main exports are coal and military weapons, which they secretly sell to countries at war. Even though there are international sanctions, North Korea continues smuggling. The government also trains hackers to steal money from other countries. In 2022, they stole about $1.7 billion through hacking. North Korea also makes about $2.6 billion each year by sending forced laborers to other countries. 
North Korea’s GDP per capita is approximately $1,700.

》 Scripture Focus

》 Prayer points

1. Before the liberation of Korea, Pyongyang was the center of Protestant Christianity in Korea as was known as the “Jerusalem of the East” for its spiritual revival despite persecution. Today, only Kim Jong Un is worshipped in North Korea, and all religious activities are forbidden. Possessing a Bible or meeting for worship can result in execution. However, there are still Christians in North Korea, and the gospel is spreading. An estimated 100,000 Christians are imprisoned in labor camps. Let us pray for the North Korean church to remain strong in faith, even in hardship. Pray that the Lord will be their stronghold and that North Korea will become a nation that worships God.

2. As of June 2023, 33,981 North Korean defectors have entered South Korea. In addition, tens of thousands, possibly more, are hiding in China. Let us pray for South Korean churches to reach these defectors with the gospel so that they can live new lives in Christ. Let us also pray for the protection of defectors hiding in China, that they would have the opportunity to hear the gospel. Some defectors who believe in Christ are even risking their lives by returning to North Korea to share the gospel. Pray for their safety and that many churches will be planted through them, leading to the spiritual restoration of North Korea. Let’s also pray for the unification of Korea through the gospel and ask forgiveness for the indifference of the South towards North Korea.

3. Humanitarian aid and missionary work near the North Korean and Chinese borders has been ongoing through NGOs from Korea and other countries. Christian radio programs (such as TWR and FEBC), Bibles, and Christian materials are sent to North Korea by balloons and smuggling. Many North Korean refugees have fled to China since the famine of the 1990s, known as the ‘Arduous March’. Missionaries and Korean-Chinese Christians in China offered them shelter and shared the gospel, helping them escape to third countries. Let us pray that God’s will for North Korea will continue to be fulfilled, that the power of the oppressors will be broken, and that more souls will be saved, bringing revival to the nation.

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