Over 75 percent of Christians in North Korea do not survive persecution, defectors say

More than 75 percent of Christians in North Korea do not survive persecution, according to defectors interviewed after they came to South Korea starting 2007.

(Reuters/Kyodo)North Korean people visit in front of bronze statues of North Korea founder Kim Il-sung (L) and late leader Kim Jong-il at Mansudae in Pyongyang, in this photo taken by Kyodo, February 15, 2013, a day before the birthday of their late leader, Kim Jong-il.

According to North Korean defectors, 75 percent of North Koreans who are persecuted die for their faith.

ChristianDaily.com reports that the Database Center for North Korean Human Rights (NKDB) interviewed 11,730 North Korean defectors who had escaped to South Korea.

North Korea is number one on Open Doors World Watch List of countries where Christian persecution is the worst.

Practicing any religion that is not sanctioned by the government is punishable by death in North Korea. In fact, 100 percent of all defectors interviewed said there is zero religious freedom in the country.

Additionally, 98 percent of defectors said the only facilities for worship are located in Pyongyang and are simply there as a display for tourists.

The defectors also said that 80 percent of those taken into custody by the state disappear and their whereabouts remain unknown.

Christian persecution ministries have advocated for action to be taken to investigate the human rights abuses perpetrated by North Korea.

Last month, the ministry Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) released a report expressing deep concern over the persecution many face in North Korea. CSW advocated for launching a United Nations Commission on Inquiry to further investigate the country’s crimes.