North Korea – In the shadow of the Kim regime’s iron-fisted rule, where the mere possession of a Bible can lead to execution, the gospel of Jesus Christ remains an unstoppable force in North Korea.

Despite relentless efforts to extinguish Christianity (and any religion for that matter), brave souls like Illyong Ju, a North Korean defector, continue to spread the message of hope and resilience.

Illyong has witnessed firsthand the brutal persecution of Christians in North Korea. His family has been torn apart, with many members taken into political prison camps after their faith was discovered. Despite these harrowing experiences, Illyong remains hopeful for his homeland.

“The gospel is unstoppable,” he declared, a belief that fuels his advocacy for North Korean Christians. “I feel an obligation to tell my story … I hope that my testimony will contribute to informing the world of the oppression that North Korean people are suffering.”

Despite their suffering, the underground church in North Korea continues to grow. Based on his experience, Illyong outlined three types of Christians in North Korea. The “Stump Believers” are faithful believers who’ve been Christians since before the regime’s establishment and continue to secretly pass down their faith to their children. “Outside Recipients” are individuals who encounter Christianity while abroad, often in China, and return to North Korea, sometimes voluntarily and sometimes through forced repatriation, bringing the gospel with them. North Koreans who have come to know Jesus in North Korea, often through contact with outside recipients, and are fervently spreading the gospel are known as “Internal Acceptors.”

Illyong shares that despite severe persecution, the Bible has become known in North Korean markets as a “book of blessings.” This remarkable spread of faith highlights the resilience of North Korean Christians, who, like the 7,000 righteous who did not bow to Baal, stand firm against the regime’s oppression.

GOD’S WORK THROUGH ADVERSITY

At the end of 2023, up to 600 North Korean refugees were reportedly forcibly repatriated from China. These individuals endured intense interrogations and torture, and some were likely executed. However, Illyong believes that God is still at work, even in these dire circumstances. Among those repatriated are Christians (outside recipients) who will continue to spread the gospel, even while in prison.

“Despite the North Korean regime’s strong oppression, North Korean people achieved an amazing victory in the development of the marketplace,” Illyong said. This shift has weakened the regime’s control and opened new channels for spreading the gospel, particularly through the younger “Jang Madang generation” and the emerging capitalist class, or “donju.”

Illyong dreams of a united Korean peninsula where Jesus is the only king. He urges Christians worldwide to join in spreading the gospel to North Korea through defectors, embracing a “One King, One Korea” movement.

In the face of unimaginable adversity, the faith of North Korean Christians shines brightly. Their unyielding commitment to the gospel, despite the regime’s efforts to silence them, is a testament to the unstoppable power of the gospel.
Sources:persecution

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