ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with the history of the North Korean Church from the Korean War to the present. The Korean War devastated the Protestant Church in North Korea. Churches were destroyed by US bombers; most leaders and many adherents left for the South. Moreover, people were hostile to Christianity, which was considered the religion of their archenemy, the United States. North Korean Protestants had to hide their faith. Kim Il-sung, however, was tolerant toward Christians who obeyed him and allowed home churches since the late 1960s. As North Korea actively sought exchanges with the West beginning in the 1970s, the North Korean Church became a channel. The North Korean Church communicated with outside churches and Christian organizations, including South Korean counterparts. It published the Bible and hymnbook, constructed churches, and opened a theological seminary. However, Kim Il-sung’s death, the nation’s economic difficulties, and the nuclear crisis created a challenging environment for North Korean Protestants.
