By 2026, more than a decade has passed since South Korean missionary Choi Chun-gil was arrested by North Korean authorities in December 2014. Sentenced in June 2015 to "reform through forced labor for life", Choi remains detained in unknown conditions, without regular consular access. The South Korean government issued a formal request in 2026 for his immediate release. An estimated 50,000 to 70,000 Christians are being held in North Korean labor camps.
In North Korea, Christianity is treated as treason against the state. Following Jesus means not following the Kim family, which demands absolute devotion as though it were a deity. The consequences for anyone discovered practicing the Christian faith are drastic: indefinite imprisonment in labor camps or immediate execution. Even possessing a Bible can lead to a conviction. Open Doors has ranked North Korea as the world’s most dangerous country for Christians for more than two consecutive decades.
Despite total suppression, missionary efforts persist in creative ways. Voice of the Martyrs broadcasts radio programs in Korean to the North and sends Bibles attached to weather balloons across the border. Accounts from believers who have fled to South Korea describe faith communities operating in complete secrecy, with members who never fully reveal themselves to one another for fear of being reported. Faith flourishes in the shadows.
Pray specifically for the release of Choi Chun-gil and the other Christians imprisoned in North Korean labor camps. Intercede for radio broadcasts and balloons carrying Scripture to continue reaching the North Korean people. Cry out to God for the day when North Korea will be open to the gospel. Pray for wisdom for governments negotiating with Pyongyang, and for religious freedom to be part of diplomatic negotiations.
