Six US citizens are under investigation in South Korea after reportedly trying to send bottles containing Bibles, rice, US dollar bills, and USB drives across the sea toward North Korea.
The group was stopped last month on Ganghwa Island, near the North Korean border. Authorities are currently reviewing whether the effort broke any of South Korea’s public safety laws.
The US State Department confirmed awareness of the situation but declined to release names or additional details, citing privacy rules.
Some Christian groups worry the incident could make it harder for organizations that already work quietly to reach people inside North Korea.
Eric Foley, who leads Voice of the Martyrs Korea, said his organization is not connected to the individuals but noted the incident might bring added attention to Christian efforts to reach people inside North Korea.
Foley reflected on his own experiences facing legal challenges in South Korea in 2020 when he launched Bibles into the North using balloons. He cautioned that unauthorized attempts by individuals or groups not working with local partners could hinder ongoing, carefully planned outreach.
Some in the Christian community fear that these arrests may slow or complicate existing efforts that have been underway for years. For many, sending spiritual materials into North Korea is seen as essential work. However, others argue that such actions, especially when done without coordination, can disrupt diplomatic conversations or lead to increased restrictions.
President Lee Myung of South Korea, who took office recently, has shown interest in opening dialogue with North Korea and has discouraged activities like leaflet drops and bottle launches that could be perceived as provocations. Still, some advocacy groups argue these missions are necessary and accuse authorities of using arrests to discourage activism.
Suzanne Scholte of the Defense Forum Foundation, which works with defectors, voiced skepticism about the arrests. She questioned whether this might be a tactic to suppress outreach. Others, like Jongho Kim from the Northeast Asia Reconciliation Initiative, emphasized that even well-meaning efforts can create more resistance if not carefully considered.
Despite a tightening of border control and increased surveillance, groups like Voice of the Martyrs Korea say they continue to deliver small numbers of Bibles to North Korea through various quiet methods.
Foley suggested the best way to help is to ask North Korean Christians what support they actually need rather than acting independently.
Estimates suggest that tens of thousands of people are imprisoned simply for being associated with Christianity. Those caught may face torture or execution. Even if someone survives arrest, their family could also be punished.
The North Korean government does not tolerate any belief system outside of loyalty to its leadership. Even owning a Bible is considered a crime. Secret house churches do exist, but these are limited and extremely cautious. Families often worship alone to reduce risk.
North Korea’s anti-religious policies are deeply rooted in its ideology. The government has cracked down heavily in recent years. Laws introduced in late 2020 target any foreign media or beliefs, and harsh penalties are given for simple acts like watching South Korean TV or receiving outside materials.
Some reports have documented teenagers receiving prison sentences or worse for viewing banned content. Others say individuals who came into contact with rice-filled bottles from the South were sent to labor camps.
Officially, North Korea claims to have places of worship, but these are mostly for foreign visitors and are not accessible to the average citizen. Daily life for believers involves avoiding detection, hiding religious materials, and staying silent.
Christian citizens who wish to follow their faith meet secretly, often only with family members. Speaking or even owning a Bible could result in long imprisonment or execution.
In North Korea, the government is the main source of religious persecution. It classifies its population into three categories based on loyalty, and Christians fall into the lowest one, labeled “hostile.”
Anyone with a Christian background, even if it’s two generations back, is considered “hostile” and faces lifelong discrimination in education, jobs, and food access.
Estimates by advocacy groups suggest that tens of thousands of Christians are currently in labor camps. Testimonies from escapees describe the conditions as brutal, with little chance of survival or release. According to a refugee, “If it is known you are a Christian, you are jailed. And you will never get out of jail unless you escape.”
Despite this, a quiet network of believers continues to exist in North Korea, maintaining their faith with extreme care. International organizations estimate their numbers in the hundreds of thousands, although no one can say for sure, and their commitment remains firm even in the face of danger.
Outreach efforts by organizations in neighboring countries continue, but are increasingly being weighed against concerns about safety and diplomacy.
