ICC Note:

To some, the war against Christians may seem new, but the truth is that North Korea has attempted to eliminate Christianity in its country for over 70 years. Interestingly enough, despite severe Christian persecution, over 70 Christian organizations and churches since 1995 have been welcomed by the North Korean government. According to this article, the North Korean government tolerates Christian organizations because of their integrity and benefit to the nation. Despite this, North Korea is the worst persecutor of Christians in the world.

10/07/2016 North Korea (EF News) – North Korea is a nation that has attempted to eradicate the Christian faith for over 70 years. The Kim dynasty has gone through many changes, and each change has been accompanied by hopes for political and religious reforms, but to no avail. Throughout these years, those who have sought to engage with North Korea have encountered ‘donor fatigue’ and criticism of the engagement approach, while some of those involved have suffered burnout or left. However, both throughout history and current Christian engagement, God is not absent in North Korea—indeed the display of God’s irresistible grace is manifested inside, and at times outside, this nation.

North Korea is in fact no stranger to Christianity. Christian revival, modern medicine, education, and the Independence Movement have been used by God to draw this nation to himself. In 1907, Pyongyang, the then capital of Korea, was declared the ‘Jerusalem of the East’ due to the vigour of its Christian presence and activities.

Medicine played a monumental role in opening Korea to Christianity. Horace Allen, an American medical missionary, arrived in Korea in 1884 and providentially was able to heal the Queen’s brother. Through this benevolent work, missionaries were welcomed to Korea, and Christianity received a significant boost. Soon after, Allen was able to establish a medical hospital and a school, and missionaries were then given permission to establish educational institutions all over the nation; Christians started 293 schools and 40 universities.

Christianity was identified with the Independence Movement against Japanese colonialism, which helped gain respect and legitimacy. This was a movement of unity which transcended socio-religious backgrounds. However, the role that Christians played was prominent and is recognized in history: Out of the 33 Independence Movement Declaration signatories, 16 were Christian. According to the Japanese police report in 1919, of the 19,525 persons arrested, 3,371 were Christians and 489 were clergy. Of the 471 women arrested, Christians accounted for more than 309. These figures are impressive considering that Christians amounted to less than 2% of the population at the time. These contributions gave Christianity credibility and legitimacy as a religion of Korea.

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