On October 9, 2024, Christian Daily International published an article detailing the severe persecution of Christians in North Korea and the role of China in forcibly repatriating North Korean escapees. The report highlighted the consequences for those suspected of practicing Christianity, such as torture, imprisonment, and execution.

In this article, Hanna Song, Executive Director of the Database Center for North Korean Human Rights (NKDB), is quoted for her insights shared during a U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) hearing. She discussed the harsh realities of forced repatriation and its devastating impact on victims.

"Upon returning to North Korea, one of the first questions they will be asked by authorities is whether they have met with a missionary during their time in China. This question is not merely a formality. The answer determines the severity of punishment they will endure. If an individual admits to or is found to have had contact with a missionary, particularly one affiliated with Christianity, they’re often subject to the harshest forms of torture and imprisonment”.

She also emphasized the urgent need for international action to address forced repatriations and their inhumane consequences. 

You can read the full article HERE.