Overview
North Korea is a closed society and for most of the country’s recent history, Christian churches have not been able to exist and thrive as other places. The question of whether there are any Christian churches in North Korea is complex and has many answers, depending on the source.
Most sources agree that there are some isolated Christian churches located in certain parts of North Korea, but the numbers are far lower than in neighboring countries such as South Korea, China and Japan. Moreover, the existence and activities of these churches are highly restricted and monitored by the North Korean government.
There have been reports of underground churches in North Korea since the early 1980s, though the size and number of such churches is uncertain. These churches are often run clandestinely, as worship of any religion other than the state-sponsored version of Juche is forbidden in North Korea. This means that these churches often exist in secret, with practitioners needing to take extreme precautions and risks to keep their activities from being discovered by North Korean authorities.
The Historical Context
It is difficult to pinpoint exactly when Christianity first began to be practiced in North Korea. However, most sources agree that the majority of the Churches that exist in North Korea today were established in the decades following the Korean War of 1950 to 1953. Prior to this, there is evidence that some Korean Christians fled to North Korea to escape religious persecution in the South
During the Korean War, two distinct systems were established in the Korean peninsula: one in the South and one in the North. In the South, Christianity experienced a period of expansion, as religious freedom and democracy was championed. In the North, however, Christianity was suppressed and the government instead promoted a state-sanctioned version of the ideology of Juche.
This shift in ideology and religious practice had a significant impact on Christianity in North Korea. From this point onwards, Kim Il Sung implemented a policy of total control and suppression of religious freedom. This burden was handed down to his successor Kim Jong Il, and remains in place in North Korea today.
Recent Developments
In recent years, some reports have suggested that the North Korean government has been softening its stance on Christianity. In August 2018, it was reported that the North Korean government had begun allowing some Christian churches to open in certain parts of the country. However, this has been met with skepticism by some analysts, as there is still no evidence of the North Korean government revoking its long-standing policy of non-tolerance towards religious freedom.
Responding to this development, Jeffrey Lilley, the president of Christian Solidarity Worldwide, said that “any genuine religious freedom in North Korea, however limited, must be welcomed with cautious optimism”. He added that “the onus is now on the North Korean authorities to demonstrate that all religions are free to operate and that their activities are safeguarded from state interference”.
Several international NGOs, including Open Doors and World Watch Monitor, have been working to document and monitor the situation for Christians in North Korea. These organizations have reported that Christians in North Korea face severe and intense persecution and that the true extent of the situation is difficult to ascertain due to the highly isolated and secretive nature of the North Korean government.
International Reactions
The situation of Christian churches in North Korea has attracted significant attention from the international community, with many countries and organizations calling for the North Korean government to end its restrictions on religious freedom. Most notable of these is the United Nations Human Rights Council, which has repeatedly requested that the North Korean government “cease persecuting individuals on the grounds of religion”.
The United States has been particularly vocal in its calls for religious freedom in North Korea, with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson stating that “we must work together to end the abuses endured by religious minorities in the country”. The US government has also spoken out against North Korea’s policy of forced religious conversion, describing it as a “gross violation of international law”.
The European Union has also condemned North Korea’s restrictions on religious freedom and has called on the North Korean government to “respect and protect the freedom of religion of all North Koreans”. In addition, the EU has provided financial and diplomatic support to organizations working to promote religious freedom in North Korea.
Religious Leaders’ Reaction
Religious leaders worldwide have also expressed concerns about the situation for Christians in North Korea. Pope Francis has spoken out against the North Korean government’s restrictions of religious freedom, calling them “unacceptable”. Similarly, Archbishop Celestino Migliore, the Vatican’s ambassador to the United Nations, called on Pyongyang to “take concrete steps to ensure that its citizens can exercise their rights to religious freedom”.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has also expressed support for persecuted Christians in North Korea. Welby said that “we must all stand together to help our brothers and sisters in North Korea and call for their release from persecution”. He urged “all governments to act collectively to keep the pressure on [the North Korean government] so that they can be sure that their rights to religious freedom will be protected”.
Conclusion
It is clear that the question of whether there are any Christian churches in North Korea is a complex one. While the North Korean government continues to enforce a policy of non-tolerance towards religious freedom, there are signs that some Christian churches exist in certain parts of the country. However, the true extent of these churches is difficult to ascertain due to the secretive and oppressive nature of the North Korean regime.
