We serve Christians around the world whose brave faith in Jesus means they are, beaten, threatened, imprisoned, tortured, falsely accused, disowned and hated.

CHINA: 600 REFUGEES SENT BACK TO NORTH KOREA

pattern

China has sent 600 North Korean refugees back to North Korea, where they are likely to face torture, imprisonment and even death. Hundreds more face the same threat. Timothy Cho – a North Korean escapee and Open Doors spokesperson – is urging Parliament to act in response.

“I have personally experienced repatriation once, and I am familiar with the process of imprisonment, torture and punishment that follows,” Timothy Cho* writes in a letter to MPs, in his role as Co-Secretariat of the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group on North Korea, exhorting them to raise the matter in Parliament. “I urge you to encourage the British Government to initiate a dialogue with Chinese authorities to facilitate the deportation of the remaining North Korean refugees to third countries, rather than sending them back to North Korea.

“Even if we can rescue just one person through these diplomatic efforts in collaboration with the South Korean government, it would be a significant achievement.”

Christians among those ‘repatriated’

“Many of these refugees are Christians, women, and children, including recently born babies,” writes Timothy Cho. “The punishment for anyone that has been associated with Christian churches or missionaries while they were in China are likely to be particularly severe, indeed many are likely to be executed.”

“Many of these refugees are Christians, women, and children, including recently born babies.”

TIMOTHY CHO

Open Doors ranks North Korea as the place where Christians face the worst persecution for their faith. If discovered by the authorities, believers are either sent to labour camps as political prisoners where the conditions are atrocious, or killed on the spot – and their families will share their fate as well. Christians have absolutely no freedom. Simply speaking with missionaries can put those being sent back to North Korea in grave danger.

Timothy Cho escaped from North Korea in his teens, after being repatriated once – facing imprisonment and brutal interrogation on his return. After a second escape, where he was again arrested in China, he was granted deportation to the Philippines after missionaries advocated for his safe release.

“I was so lucky. If I had been returned to North Korea again, I would not be alive today. That’s a fate I want to spare my brothers and sisters, currently in prison in China.”

Pray for North Korean refugees

This is not the first time that China has repatriated North Koreans who have fled across their northern border, however numbers have been far lower in previous years.

“It’s too late for those six hundreds who’ve already been repatriated,” adds Timothy Cho. “What we can do is to urge the Chinese authorities to deport any more escapees to a third country, such as the Philippines. This will ultimately allow them to reach South Korea safely.”

In Scotland, MSP Kate Forbes has tabled a motion for the matter to be debated in Holyrood and Timothy hopes that a Backbench Business Debate can be heard in the Commons. Please pray that this happens and is effective – and pray for all North Korean refugees who’ve been repatriated, and those under threat of it.

PRAY NOW...
1

For North Korean refugees to be kept from harm, and for Christians who’ve been repatriated to know God’s loving comfort and sovereign protection

3

Join with North Korea’s Christians in praying for religious freedom to come to the nation, and light to overcome the darkness.

2

That the UK Parliament will act wisely and compassionately in response to these actions

DO SOMETHING…
  • 1
    1. TAKE ON THE CHOOSE TO LOOSE CHALLENGE...

    Choose to lose something you love to raise money and prayer for those losing out because of their faith in Jesus.

    Choose to Lose
  • 2
    2. ORDER THE NEW 2023 WORLD WATCH LIST PRAYER MAP…

    Get your free interactive map and start praying risky prayers with the persecuted church.

    Order now...
  • 3
    3. TRY THE RISK FACTOR QUIZ...

    How much do you know about the places where faith costs the most? Test yourself and share your score with your friends.

    Take the quiz
NEWS
May 12, 2025

Thanks to your prayers and support, over 800 families have been helped since the devastating earthquake in March.

Find out more
May 12, 2025

Please pray for Trinh and her children after they were forced from their home for their faith.

Find out more
May 6, 2025

Meet Tarik, once a dangerous man, he now is a church leader embracing a dangerous faith.

Find out more
April 29, 2025

Pray for a Christian family in Vietnam whose home was destroyed after other villagers were angry that they became Christians…

Find out more
April 14, 2025

Sara faithfully ministers to the women in her church, helping them to build strong relationships with their spouses. And it’s all because of a dream she had when she was 12…

Find out more
April 14, 2025

Please join us in praying for Barun, a 13-year-old Christian convert who recently had to go to hospital after being beaten because of his faith in Jesus.

Find out more
April 7, 2025

In July 2023 militants attacked Godwin’s village, killing his father. Thanks to your support and prayers, he is finding new hope, forgiving the attackers.

Find out more
April 1, 2025

After Myanmar’s devastating earthquake, here are five ways to pray for the situation, for Christians and for the work of Open Doors partners.

Find out more
March 31, 2025

Pray for the family, friends and church of an Indian Pastor who has been found dead a month after raising concerns about his safety on social media.

Find out more
March 31, 2025

When Yasmina’s parents died within a few years of each other, her friends encouraged her to pursue her Islamic faith, but it was in Jesus that she found a new, but dangerous hope.

Find out more
btn-scroll