ABSTRACT
Although guaranteed by North Korea’s constitution, the DPRK sharply curtails religious freedom in practice. Refugees and defectors held on the basis of their religious beliefs generally receive worse treatment than other inmates. North Korea sends many Christians to labor camps due to their religious beliefs. 1 A North Korean concentration camp prisoner explains:
I have seen many scenes of Christians being punished because they would not change their belief. They would not say, okay, I will not believe in Christ anymore, and that is what the prison guards wanted to hear. I have seen eight women who were dragged out and being punished because they did not say they would not believe in Christ anymore. These women were burned. 2
