North Korea: Despite 70 Years of Religious Persecution, the Church Just Keeps Growing

Suzette Gutierrez-Cachila : Oct 11, 2016
Gospel Herald

When it comes to dealing with Christian organizations, North Korea is not at all like China, where Christians are associated with negative things like the Opium Wars and colonialism.

(North Korea)—[Gospel Herald] North Korea Christians have endured 70 years of persecution, but these have not stopped the work of God in the communist nation. (Photo via BosNewsLife.com)

Since 1995, the North Korean government has allowed about 480 foreign organizations to work in the country, and 70 of these are Christian, including Samaritan's Purse and World Vision.

These Christian organizations have covered 85 of the 145 counties and 23 of the 27 cities in North Korea, which means a large part of the country's population has been exposed to Christian work, according to an article from the Lausanne Global Analysis.

The North Korean government extends tolerance toward these Christian groups not only because of the benefits they give but also because they are perceived to be people of integrity.

"In one of my trips, one minder commented to me, 'Many of the people coming into our country want to take advantage of us, but you (Christians) want to help us,'" the article author wrote.

When it comes to dealing with Christian organizations, North Korea is not at all like China, where Christians are associated with negative things like the Opium Wars and colonialism. In North Korean history, Christianity had been perceived as being generally helpful to the nation. (Photo via Pinterest)

Korea first opened its doors to Christianity in 1884 when American missionary Horace Allen was able to help heal the Queen's brother through the use of medicine. Because of this, more missionaries were invited into the country, leading to the establishment of 293 schools and 43 universities and a surge of Christian activity particularly in Pyongyang, which at the time was dubbed as the Jerusalem of the East.

Thus, from a historical perspective, Christians in North Korea have been associated with education and progress.

However, Christian persecution in the country became intense since 1945. The government, seeking to remove all traces of Christianity, conducted a massive crackdown against Christians.
In the 1970s, the government announced Christians no longer exist in the country.

For the fourteenth year in a row, North Korea has been...

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