He explains it simply:
To speak about God can bring soldiers in the night. There will be no trial. No headlines. No one asking where you went.
Yet after repeated encounters with Pastor Han’s integrity, Sang-chul asked for a Bible.
He knew the danger. In North Korea, even “glancing” at a Bible can lead to imprisonment. Still, he took it home. He read it in secret. He shared it carefully with his wife and closest friend.
The Cost of Smuggling Scripture
In April 2016, Pastor Han was murdered near the North Korean border. Reports indicated North Korean agents were responsible.
He had discipled more than 1,000 North Koreans.
His death underscores what it means when we say the Bible is banned in North Korea. Distribution is treated as subversion. Evangelism is framed as espionage. Kindness itself can be criminalized.
Organizations like Voice of the Martyrs continue to document cases like these and support underground believers, but the risk remains staggering.
North Korea Christian Persecution in 2026
According to the 2026 World Watch List from Open Doors, North Korea remains at or near the top of the list of worst persecutors of Christians worldwide.
Christians must:
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Hide physical Bibles inside walls or underground.
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Memorize Scripture because books can be confiscated.
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Worship in groups of two or three, if at all.
The regime views Christianity as a direct threat to loyalty toward the ruling leadership. For this reason, Bible ownership is treated as political rebellion.
