“There is no other country in the world where Christians are being persecuted in such a horrible and relentless way,” according to the organization.

SIDEBAR: The ‘Cult’ of Kim Il Sung

Refugees interviewed in the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom report stressed that Juche, or Kim-Il-Sung-ism, remained the only acceptable ideology in North Korea following Kim Jong Il’s succession, although fortune-telling or shamanism had made a comeback in recent years and was tolerated – even patronized – by some officials.

Kim Il Sung constructed his “Revolutionary Thought” system in the late 1950s and early 1960s to fill a void created by the repression of other religions. By the mid-1980s, he had extended Juche into an elaborate belief system that deified Kim Il Sung and his family.

Under Kim Jong Il, according to the report, “Absolute reverence for the Kim family continues to be indoctrinated … through schools, media and the workplace … disinterest, ‘complaints’ or ‘wrong thoughts’ can, in some cases, lead to the imprisonment of up to three generations of one’s family.”

Propaganda against other religious beliefs is widespread; in fact all citizens are required to attend at least one weekly indoctrination class at their local “Revolutionary Idea Institute” or “Research Room.” Portraits of the Kim family must be visible in every home, office, school and public venue, and special committees police this requirement diligently.

All is not well in Kim Il Sung’s self-proclaimed paradise, however. Several refugees, including former soldiers and intelligence officers, claimed that support for the ideology is only surface-deep and varies geographically. “There is a remarkable contrast … between the border and inland areas,” one refugee said. “The border area is ruled by capitalism and the inland area is ruled by socialism. Inland people still believe Kim Jong Il is the best.”

Interviewees spoke of discontent with the ideology ranging from private to public complaints, lax enforcement and disregard for some requirements.

One stated that, “Living conditions are harsh and studying Juche doesn’t give you rice … Workers like us go to study [propaganda sessions] because we are told to … In factories, we were told to read several books and quote them during ‘Self-Criticism Meetings.’ If not insane, who would read these books?”

Another claimed eight out of 10 people in most study sessions had silent complaints, but if anyone complained openly they would “disappear” the following day; he added, “Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il are god … You have to stand up and say everything’s good even though you have nothing to eat.”

Copyright 2008 Compass Direct News