In North Korea, following Jesus is treated as an act of treason because it conflicts with loyalty to the ruling Kim family, according to The Voice of the Martyrs USA (VOM USA). Christianity is not dismissed as a foreign belief but viewed as a direct challenge to state authority.
![A North Korean flag flutters at the propaganda village of Gijungdong in North Korea, in this picture taken near the truce village of Panmunjom inside the demilitarized zone (DMZ) in South Korea on July 19, 2022. [REUTERS]](https://www.koreadailyus.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/0915-NorthKoreanflag.jpg)
Todd Nettleton, a spokesperson for VOM USA, said the government openly regards Christianity as a serious threat. As the Christian message spreads, persecution intensifies, placing believers and their families at risk. When individuals are discovered with Bibles, punishment often extends beyond them to parents and children, with entire families sent to labor camps in an effort to eliminate Christian influence at its roots.
The regime promotes the idea that members of the Kim family are divine figures. Nettleton said children are taught from a young age to thank Kim Il Sung for daily necessities such as food, reinforcing loyalty to the state while discouraging any religious devotion outside government ideology.
Because of this environment, even private expressions of faith can be dangerous. Nettleton said parents must be cautious about discussing Jesus with their own children, as students are sometimes questioned at school about whether their families pray, look to the sky to speak with someone unseen, or secretly keep and read a special book.
Despite the risks, efforts to reach North Koreans with Christian teachings continue. Outreach methods include radio broadcasts and scripture balloons floated into the country by VOM USA. Additional efforts focus on North Koreans working in China or Russia, as well as those who have escaped to South Korea in search of safety.
Some North Korean Christians maintain contact with relatives inside the country despite its isolation. Voice of the Martyrs Korea (VOM Korea), a sister organization, trains defectors to share Christian messages through phone calls and other communication methods used to stay in touch with family members.
Nettleton said these initiatives show a determined commitment to reaching North Koreans with the gospel. However, he added that as long as the current regime remains in power, meaningful change is difficult to foresee. He said the level of oppression is so high that many believers may never meet more than one or two other Christians in their lifetime, making prayer and creative support essential for sustaining their faith.
