Branden Kartchner

North Korea is a Communist state run by a one-man dictatorship. The government selects candidates to run in elections; however, the hand-picked candidates run without opposition.  North Koreans essentially have worshiped their leaders as Gods.  

Genuine religious freedom does not exist in North Korea. Although the constitution pays lip service to religious freedom, the communist regime does not allow individuals the right to choose and manifest their religious beliefs. Reports by refugees, defectors, missionaries, and NGO’s have indicated that the government arrests and harshly penalizes religious persons engaged in proselytism. In certain cases, the state has tortured, executed, and imprisoned persons belonging to illegal churches.  North Korean labor camps are among the most brutal in the world. Hence, people who practice their religion do so in fear for their lives. Not surprisingly, North Korea has held the top spot on the World Watch List of the most oppressive countries for Christians since the list was created twelve years ago.

Despite the major human rights abuses, the government attempts to promote the image that it is tolerant of religion by inviting visitors to governmentally established religious ceremonies where all participants seem to be having a great time. The festivals are unauthentic and are used only to impress visitors.

Official numbers are hard to determine, but major religions in the state are purported to be Buddhist and Confucianism, some Christian, and syncretic Chondogyo.

Sources: U.S. State Department Religious Freedom Report; Religion and the State: An International Analysis of Roles and Relationships; WorldWatchMonitor.org