PYONGYANG, North Korea — In a report released in April by a U.S. government body, refugee testimonies confirm severe persecution of Christians throughout North Korea.
In the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom report, refugees said that Christianity remained a key factor in the interrogation of people repatriated from China to North Korea. Border guards reserved the harshest punishment for those who admitted having any contact with Chinese or South Korean Christians.
The report, released April 15, found that consequences are harsh for those found violating state policies on religion. "For example, recently many North Korean refugees have Bibles with them when they are repatriated," one refugee said. "If you get caught carrying a Bible, there is no way to save your life."
Refugees interviewed said that punishment for owning a Bible could include execution and the imprisonment of "three generations" of the owner’s family.
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