Living your faith fully in North Korea is unthinkable. As summarized by the Protestant NGO Doors Open in its World Index of Persecution of Christians published on Wednesday, "the totalitarian grip of the regime on each individual makes faith in God a crime against the regime". If Nigeria is the deadliest country for Christians, North Korea is considered to be the country where their persecution is most extreme.
When one is a believer, it is therefore a question of hiding it. A 30-year-old North Korean refugee now living in the UK, Timothy Cho - a pseudonym for his safety - learned late that his grandparents were Christians. He converted after escaping from the country when he was still a teenager. A faith that led him to the pope. Three years ago, he became the first North Korean refugee Christian to meet the sovereign pontiff.
What was the hardest part of living in North Korea? What made you run away?
Timothy Cho: As a child, my parents fled the country and for several years I lived there on the street. I had to beg for food, or even steal food. I then went to live with my grandparents in the countryside and I helped to grow beans and corn. When I was a teenager, I realized that I could not expect anything from this country. I had no hope. When I decided to escape, it was a matter of survival. At that time, I was not yet a Christian. My father later told me that my grandparents were. Finding out was dangerous. In North Korea, people are divided into three classes: "loyal", "neutral" and "hostile". Those who are considered "hostile" are not necessarily sent to a camp. But if it is discovered that you are Christians, you will be sent there for sure.
Have you finally made it to China?
Yes. I fled North Korea twice. The first time, I was arrested in China and returned to Korea. In China, I had found refuge in a place managed by a Christian association. There were several children who learned the story of Jesus, prayed before eating. A missionary watched over them. I was so scared of this guy at first. In North Korea, I was brainwashed. We learned that our leaders were like gods and we were told that missionaries kidnapped children. I thought this missionary was going to kill me or take my blood! After I was deported to Korea, the authorities asked whether I went to church or prayed in China. I denied everything, otherwise they would have sent me to a camp. I was also unsure of my faith at the time. I was still imprisoned for a few weeks and then I was released.
How was your second attempt?
I managed to leave Korea a second time, but the Chinese authorities once again arrested me. In my cell, there were several foreigners from the United States, Colombia, Japan. A South Korean told me to read the Bible. He knew what hopeless situation I was in. Since I went to an American school in Shanghai during my second flight, I risked being considered a spy if I was sent back to Korea, and I would be executed there. I started to read the Bible, to pray every day. I asked for a little hope. I didn't want to die at 16. I said to God: "If you exist, give me freedom". Then two people from the United Nations and the South Korean embassy came to see me. They told me that the media was pressing China not to send me back to North Korea, and I was eventually deported to the Philippines. I had received an answer from God. In return, I kept the promise to follow him for the rest of my life.
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Why are Christians treated this way in North Korea? Because they pose a threat?
Christianity is seen as a problem of national security. If you are considered a political criminal in North Korea, it is said that you are a homeland traitor. To be defined as a Christian is to directly challenge the supposed divine essence of the Kim family and the worship to which they are subject. Kim Il-Sung, the founder of North Korea in 1948, understood very well what Christianity could represent for the regime since he was baptized and went to church. Her mother was herself baptized by the stepfather of Billy Graham (a very influential American evangelist, editor's note).
Do we know the number of Christians in North Korea?
We do not have an exact figure. We think there are about 300,000, but that is a minimum in my opinion. It should not be forgotten that Korea was a country very marked by Christianity. In 1907, there was a great spiritual awakening in Pyongyang. The city was even considered the "Jerusalem of Asia". But today if it is so difficult to say, it is because there is no place where we can freely discuss our faith. If you do, there are bound to be consequences. Not only for you but also for your family. Under these conditions, it is very difficult to explore your true identity.
Has the situation improved with the coming to power of Kim Jong-un in 2011?
The country has become even harder with Christians. The regime is really trying to flush them out or get their hands on those who have been in contact with any Christian outside the country. There are also fewer people who manage to escape compared to the time when I fled. Security at the border has increased.
Do you still have hope?
Our parents were loyal to the Kim, they believed everything they were told. We, we grew up seeing famine at the end of the 1990s, people who died on the street. It was happening before our eyes, when we thought we wouldn't have to worry about food as long as the Kim's lived. My generation did not grow up with the idea that the Kim were divine figures. North Korea has lived in darkness for more than 70 years, but I have the impression that we are near a turning point. I hope to one day see a united Korea. If it happens, it will be in the name of God.