PyonGyang, North Korea — The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, more commonly known as North Korea, is well known as a country where Christians are persecuted for their faith. Because the government there keeps a tight lid on communication, however, only rarely does specific information leak out. In January, details about four Christians executed for their faith were released through the World Bible Translation Center’s Gary Bishop.
One man who was an evangelist was executed after being caught with two Korean New Testaments in his possession, Bishop told Mission Network News. And a woman and her grandmother were washing clothes when a New Testament fell out of the woman’s clothing. It was reported and she and her grandmother were quickly executed. An army general who had become a believer was caught evangelizing men in his unit and was executed by a fellow officer.
Despite the oppression — or perhaps because of it — God seems to be working, Bishop said: "People are looking for an answer other than their own government. And, I believe that’s awakening the resilience of believers in North Korea to say, ‘We have another answer. There is another way to believe.’"
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