North Korea
Open Doors 2024 Watch List highlights persecution of sub-Saharan African Christians
By Fiona André — January 17, 2024
(RNS) — This year’s report also raised the alarm on a degrading situation for Indian Christians amid attacks on Christian schools and hospitals in the country.
Pastor rescues North Korean defectors on foot in new documentary ‘Beyond Utopia’
By Kathryn Post — December 11, 2023
(RNS) — The film features rare footage of the rescue missions led by Pastor Seungeun Kim and his ministry, Caleb Mission.
Christian persecution higher than ever as Open Doors’ World Watch List marks 30 years
By Emily McFarlan Miller — January 17, 2023
(RNS) — North Korea has returned to the top of the World Watch List with its highest-ever persecution score after an increase of arrests of Christians under its ‘anti-reactionary thought’ law.
Lost in Ukraine and SCOTUS: Five urgent Christian persecution situations
By David Curry — May 6, 2022
(RNS) — The American media’s single-story focus has crowded out alarming developments on the religious freedom front.
Trump, Pence speak at global forum held in South Korea
By Associated Press — February 14, 2022
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Several former leaders and top officials participated virtually or in-person at the weekend event in Seoul organized by the Unification Church,
Afghanistan tops Open Doors watch list of worst countries for Christians
By Adelle M. Banks — January 19, 2022
(RNS) — Across the globe, Open Doors found that there has been a 24% increase in Christians killed because of their faith.
Open Doors’ 2021 watch list highlights impact of COVID-19 on religious persecution worldwide
By Emily McFarlan Miller — January 13, 2021
(RNS) — North Korea leads the organization’s annual ranking of the 50 countries where Christians face the most persecution for their faith for the 20th straight year.
Open Doors warns of ‘rise of the surveillance state’ as North Korea tops watch list again
By Emily McFarlan Miller — January 15, 2020
(RNS) — This year, Christian watchdog organization Open Doors USA is highlighting the ‘rise of the surveillance state’ and its impact on Christians and Muslims in China in its 2019 World Watch List, released Wednesday (Jan. 15).
N. Korean Christians keep faith underground amid crackdowns
By Hyung-Jin Kim — February 2, 2019
(AP) — “I wanted to build my church and sing out as loud as I could,” said one North Korean woman who later defected to South Korea.
Bishop: Possible pope trip to North Korea ‘a gigantic step’
By The Associated Press — October 11, 2018
(AP) — A South Korean bishop says a visit by Pope Francis to North Korea would mark a “gigantic step” for peace on the peninsula but that there are many issues about religious freedom that must be resolved.
Seoul says Kim Jong Un wants pope to visit North Korea
By Kim Tong-Hyung — October 9, 2018
(AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un wants Pope Francis to visit the officially atheist country, South Korea said Tuesday.
Pence addresses Southern Baptists after debate over whether he should
By Adelle M. Banks — June 13, 2018
DALLAS (RNS) — The day before his speech, a Southern Baptist attending the annual meeting requested reconsideration of the plans to welcome Pence. He was overruled.
For many South Korean Christians, reunification is a religious goal
By Diane Winston — June 11, 2018
Many Christian South Koreans see reunification of the Korean peninsula as a religious goal as much as a political one. And if reunification, as opposed to reconciliation, seems an uphill struggle, they believe that with faith anything is possible.
North Korean detainee speaks about his ordeal
By Heather Adams — June 5, 2018
LOS ANGELES (RNS) — Imprisoned in North Korea for about a year, Kim Hak Song is back in the United States, preaching and giving his testimony to his home church. About his detention, he says he spent most of his time committing the 'crime' that got him arrested: Praying.
In leery South Korea, American missionary couple works for reunification of North and South
By Aziza Kasumov — May 9, 2018
TAEBAEK, South Korea (RNS) — In the Taebaek Mountains near Korea’s eastern coastline, American missionary Ben Torrey prepares South Korean students for their country’s reunification.
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