What does Putin’s visit to a church in North Korea mean for Christians?

President Putin recently visited a Russian Orthodox Church with Kim Jong-un – what does this tell us about religious freedom in North Korea?

On his recent visit to North Korea, Russian president Vladimir Putin visited a Russian Orthodox church, the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity. The event is likely to raise questions with many – not least, how there is a church in a country where worshipping God can bring a death penalty. Here are some answers to those questions…
 

Why did Putin visit North Korea for the first time in 24 years?

Since Russia invaded Ukraine, Putin has been increasingly isolated by the international community. He has thus turned to a small circle of states to find allies willing to support him. One of these (apparent) allies is Kim Jong-un, the leader of North Korea.

North Korea shares a small border with Russia, has a high production of weapons, artillery and missiles, and is desperate for technology and cash. Last year, Putin promised to help North Korea with its space programme while, in turn, North Korea has sent thousands of labourers to Russia. Putin’s visit continues this relationship between two leaders who are widely distrusted by other decision-makers around the globe.
 

What happened during Putin’s visit to North Korea?

During his brief visit, the Russian leader was treated to parades and shows. He also signed a mutual defence pact with Kim Jong-un. This treaty states that the two nations will aid each other in case of aggression.

Just before heading on a plane to Vietnam, Putin visited the Russian Orthodox Church. During his time there, he lit a prayer candle and spoke with Archbishop Theophanes, who also performed a brief service. The archbishop was trained and ordained in Russia by the Russian Orthodox Church.
 

Why did Putin visit the Russian Orthodox Church?

Naturally, Putin has not explained his full motivation – but experts believe there are several plausible reasons for this stop in his itinerary.

State visits like these are meant to emphasise the strong connections between countries. The Russian Orthodox Church in Pyongyang was constructed after Kim Jong-un’s father, the late leader Kim Jong-il, visited a church in the Russian city Irkutsk in 2002. Thus it harks back to a longer connection between these countries.

Putin publicly positions himself as a devout Christian and defender of the Russian Orthodox Church, and this visit can be seen to underline this position. A true Russian is Russian Orthodox, in his view. In practice, this means that people from former Soviet Republics – who are usually Muslim – are often discriminated against in Russia.

Putin’s visit may also be intended to signal to an international stage that North Korea has religious freedom. This is, however, very far from the case. It is the country where Christians face the worst persecution for their faith.
 

If there’s no freedom of religion in North Korea, how could Putin visit a church?

After the Second World War, North Korea became a Soviet satellite state, with communism as its core ideology. Christians were fiercely persecuted in the 1950s, and those who were not arrested had to keep their faith a secret.

However, North Korea soon became concerned with their international reputation and established the Korean Christian Federation. There are only four official church buildings in North Korea and they are all located in Pyongyang. Besides the Russian Orthodox Church, there’s a Roman Catholic Church and two Protestant churches.

While these appear to suggest religious freedom, it is merely a front. The churches are ‘showcase churches’, which only hold church services when foreigners request to visit. North Korean citizens certainly would not be able to attend or worship God there.

In reality, Christians in North Korea face terrible dangers if their faith is discovered. They could be killed or imprisoned in labour camps indefinitely. Their whole extended family is likely to be rounded up and face the same punishment. And yet, praise God, the church is growing – there are estimated to be about 400,000 secret Christians in the country.
 

What does Putin’s church visit mean for North Korean Christians?

Both Putin and Kim are ‘strongmen’ who rely heavily on propaganda and oppression. The church visit was a propaganda stunt and will not make any improvement to the freedoms or lives of North Korean Christians. The Bible is still a forbidden book; Christians will still be imprisoned, tortured and/or killed for their faith.
 

How you are helping

But your support and prayers can help North Korean believers. Please keep faithful in prayer for our courageous North Korean brothers and sisters. Recently, local Open Doors fieldworkers were able (through secret networks outside the country) to take much-needed food, medicines and aid to a group of North Korean refugees.

One of the believers helped says, “Your gift is like a gift of the Father! I am very joyful and grateful. I can’t hold back my tears… I just can’t believe you found me in this part of the world. Thank you all for thinking of us and practising the love of the Father.”

“I can’t believe that I’m holding your gifts in my hand,” said another of the group. “I feel that the love of the Father is amazing. We are the debtors of the love of the Father. I want to walk this way of faith and obey our Father even to death. To God’s people who are running and running to help us, following you, we will practise the love here. All the families who received the gifts of love make our deep bow to you. Thank you very much.”

Thank you for your prayers and support. Putin’s visit only serves to highlight the lack of religious freedom in North Korea – but your prayers break through the barriers imposed.