North Korea (MNN) — North Korea has begun another term under Kim Jong Un, who continues his leadership of the State Affairs Commission. The Commission oversees defense, security, and national policy. His continued rule signals little hope for improvement in religious freedom.
Sharing the Gospel openly remains extremely dangerous. “You cannot openly share the Gospel in this country,” says Brandon Neal of Guidelines International, a partner of Trans World Radio. “You have to really toe the party line, or you can get in so much trouble.”
(Photo courtesy of Secret Church)
At the same time, access to Christian media is shrinking. Neal reports a steep decline in outreach: “There’s actually been an 80% decrease in the number of hours of outside broadcasts reaching North Korea.”
In the current environment, it is nearly impossible to measure how many North Koreans still tune in to Christian radio. What is clear is that fewer voices are getting through. “It was many, many people — hundreds of thousands, possibly millions — and now there’s even less media content going in there,” Neal adds.
Even so, ministries are pressing forward, trusting God to work beyond visible barriers. Partnerships with broadcasters like Trans World Radio aim to help close the gap. “We’re hoping that we can help to fill that void, and that even more people will encounter Jesus in their heart language,” Neal says.
Inside the country, believers remain hidden to avoid persecution. Yet their faith persists. “In the midst of that persecution and all of those closed doors, God is still working there,” Neal notes.
Christians are encouraged to pray for North Korea — that ongoing hardship would not weaken the faith of believers, and that more people would come to know Christ.
“Pray for all those people in North Korea who don’t yet know Jesus,” Neal says.
Visit TWR to learn more about their Gospel work in different countries.
Korean Commons Translations Bible Anglican Edition 1999 (photo courtesy of Alvis Jean via Wikimedia Commons)
Header photo: Children line up in front of a mural in Pyongyang, North Korea (Photo courtesy of Thomas Evans via Unsplash).
