On this subject of religious activities, A Prison Without Bars from which I have been borrowing these days, produces 16 quotations from recently escaped citizens of North Korea. You are free similarly to print out this online report of 2008, where the evidence is overwhelming that not much has changed in the Hermit Kingdom. Here are a few samples of their testimony:

"I have never seen any... Christian churches... in Wonsan... I did hear about one old [Christian] lady."

"... I saw the Bongsu and Chilgol churches in Pyongyang. When the church was under construction, I saw two old people kneel down at the construction site, praying ‘Thank you God. Finally we can have a church in North Korea.'.. They were not taken right away because foreigners were recording the scene. But nobody knows what happened to them later."

"If you hide religious books well during the house searches, you won't be in trouble. If not, nobody can tell where you will be taken away at night."

"It is unimaginable, no one can even say a word about churches... in Hambeung... Those who believe in God [are thought to]invade other countries. I was taught that the U.S. penetrated culture first by sending missionaries..."

"There was a 44-year-old man who lived in Secheon, Hoeryeong who had lived in China for two years. He became a believer there... and he was said to preach salvation by Jesus. He escaped to China after being reported... I thought he was crazy..."

"In Bakcheon... there was an old site of a church. Part of it remained... but it is now a house."

"There are churches... in Pyongyang... built only for... foreigners to attend... I never heard of religious books until I came to China."

"A friend of mine... owned a Bible. I read a little because it was interesting... and asked my friend about it. He told me not to read the book. I did not report my friend to the authorities."