Once known as the “Jerusalem of the East,” North Korea was home to a vibrant Christian community. Kim Il-sung’s ancestors and parents were devout believers. However, after World War II, the Soviet Union backed Kim Il-sung in the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Swept into the tide of Marxism, North Korea declared religion “the opium of the people.” Atheism exalted humanism and sought to erase God, but the human longing for meaning never ceased—only that it found substitutes in people or ideologies.

Today, Pyongyang has four churches that serve foreigners. Among them stands Chilgol Church, built by Kim Il-sung in memory of his mother, Kang Pan-sok. Yet it is widely known that under the mechanisms of socialism, all genuine religious institutions in North Korea have been dismantled. The only state-sanctioned belief system is Juche (see April 21), the country's official ideology. Many of the anti-communist groups Kim Il-sung purged were led by Christians. In the eyes of the regime, Christianity has long been seen as a threat—closely tied to American influence and an intolerable "thorn" in the flesh.

Under the “Law on the Elimination of Reactionary Thought and Culture,” becoming a Christian or even possessing a Bible is considered a grave crime. The cost of following Jesus is suffering or exile. And yet, some still choose Christ over comfort. Today, North Korea’s underground church lies hidden, waiting in stillness—like seeds buried in frozen ground—longing for the spring thaw to break through the soil.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, though physical churches may be destroyed, the Risen Lord is building an eternal temple in the hearts of the North Korean people. May worship and praise rise like incense across the land. Grant our brothers and sisters in North Korea peace beyond understanding, and be their unshakable refuge. Preserve them like the church in Smyrna—faithful through trial, strengthened by Your grace, enduring to the end to receive the crown of life. We pray that the people of North Korea may receive Bibles and hear the gospel through radio and media. May hope take root, hearts be comforted, and feet run swiftly after You. May Your Spirit move even in prisons and labor camps, bringing freedom and release to the body, mind, and spirit of those imprisoned. Let the day come quickly when the North Korean people can worship You freely! In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.