Chasing away hunger and strengthening the church – the impact of your love in North Korea

Where would the church in North Korea be without your loving support? Through its secret networks outside the country, Open Doors can reach thousands of believers from North Korea – and the impact, practically and spiritually, is incalculable. Thank you, and please continue to stand with your North Korean family.

“The North Korean language doesn’t even have a word for ‘love’,” says Yong Sook*, a refugee from North Korea. “We just couldn’t love. We did not know how.”

The words are a sobering insight into how North Koreans have the life sucked out of them by the country’s brutally authoritarian regime. Yong Sook can see that now, but for a long time it was a different story.

Learning love

Yong Sook can distinctly recall when the now-deceased leader Kim Jong-Il instructed North Korean citizens to eat grass soup – in response to the dire food shortages. “I did not feel anything,” she says, remembering when she gave it as a ‘meal’ to her children. “We all had to eat this soup, rich or poor, child or adult, no exceptions.

“If I could re-live my life, I would live it very differently, with much more emotion,” she says. “You must understand that we were brainwashed every day. We reported to our units daily, we did every work and duty together. That numbed our emotions. I would give anything to go back and love more, especially my children.

“I regret that this is impossible. I know that God will restore us when Jesus returns and believe that we can make up for missed opportunities.”

Yong Sook managed to escape with her children after she could no longer bear the hunger. “If they had given me just one bowl of rice every day, I would still be singing and dancing in North Korea,” she says.

The most tragic thing is not that Yong Sook cannot rewind her life, but that so many still live her life. Hunger is a constant enemy – a weapon in the hands of the leaders. Hunger makes people weak and robs them of the will to resist.

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A legacy of hunger

None of this is new to North Korea. The ‘Arduous March’ of the 1990s wasn’t just a famine – it was a catastrophe. The regime admitted to 225,000 deaths, but independent estimates say up to 3.5 million people perished. Millions of lives lost – not to war, but to empty plates.

Today, history appears to be repeating itself. According to the UN’s State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World Report 2023, some 45% of North Koreans (more than 12 million people) are undernourished. Since the report’s release, the situation hasn’t improved. Children are stunted; parents are desperate. The malnutrition also weakens the immune system, meaning the smallest infection can become deadly, and the debilitating effect on the brain drains people of motivation, clarity and happiness.

Different issues contribute to this. Decades of economic mismanagement have left North Korea’s agricultural system in shambles. Instead of investing in modern farming, the government prioritises military spending. Meanwhile, international sanctions – ostensibly meant to pressure the regime – have cut off essential imports like fertilisers and technology, affecting the everyday lives of citizens. And then there’s nature, with floods, droughts and deforestation devastating crops year after year. The pandemic, which closed borders and disrupted food distribution, exacerbated these problems.

The North Korean government claims its Public Distribution System (PDS) ensures food for all. However, in reality, it’s a leaky bucket – it doesn’t hold up when people need it most. Rations have shrunk and the system is notoriously unreliable. Experts call it ‘state-induced famine’, where government policies actively worsen the crisis.

Overwhelming gratitude

“We need food”, North Korean Christians tell Open Doors every year. “Without food, we cannot function as an underground church. We don’t have the energy.”

It’s a need that your faithful and generous support is going some way towards meeting. “We are able to help thousands of Christians each year with food aid, through our networks in China,” shares Brother Simon*, Open Doors’ coordinator for ministry among North Koreans.

“The Christians are very grateful for all the food support, the medicines and clothing. When they eat, they thank the Lord for you, our supporters, for your generosity. Together, we can chase away the tormentor that’s called ‘hunger’, even if it’s just for a little while.”

“We are trying to look after believers, and try to understand the circumstances and give necessary help,” says a believer in the country. “It’s our duty and mission. But because of our limitations, we cannot help all families in difficulties. We try our best to help the poorest families among us. This is only possible thanks to what you give to us.”

It’s not just your practical support that means so much to our North Korean family – it’s also your prayers. “We are grateful for your prayers,” says a secret believer. “We are proud to be part of God’s kingdom and are motivated to live for Christ alone. We can do that thanks to the strength you give us.” A North Korean escapee says, “If you could see what God is doing in my country, you would never have any doubts again. The Holy Spirit is at work, thanks to your prayers.”

“We are committed to lay down our lives for the gospel”, says another believer in the country. “We will fulfil the commission and we will never forsake the truth.”

“Please continue to stand with us”, adds Brother Simon. “Not out of pity or out of guilt, but out of love. Love doesn’t just see the pain. It steps into it and says: ‘You are not alone.’”

*Names changed for security reasons