What animals live in North Korea?

North Korea has some remarkable wildlife! The mountains and forests there are home to Amur leopards, Siberian tigers, and brown bears — some of the rarest big cats and bears in the world. Wild boar, roe deer, and red foxes also roam the rugged hills. The rivers and wetlands shelter cranes and other migratory birds that travel through the Korean peninsula each year. It is worth knowing, though, that most people in North Korea are focused on something much harder than watching wildlife — finding enough food and living under a very strict government. That is one reason we pray for the people there, that they would hear about Jesus, who called Himself the Good Shepherd who cares for every person He made.

What do kids eat in North Korea?

Most kids in North Korea eat simple, plain food — mainly rice, corn porridge, and kimchi, which is fermented cabbage with spices. Meals are usually small, and many families do not have enough to eat. Food is hard to come by for most ordinary people there. In the countryside, families might grow small garden vegetables like radishes or sweet potatoes to add to their meals. Meat is rare and saved for special occasions. It is one of the harder things to learn about North Korea — many children there go hungry, and that is why Christians around the world pray for the people there and ask God to care for them.

How do people say hello in North Korea?

In North Korea, people speak Korean, and the most common greeting is '안녕하세요' — you say it like this: 'An-nyeong-ha-se-yo.' It means something close to 'Are you at peace?' or 'Are you well?' which is a warm and gentle way to greet someone. North and South Korea share the same language, though some words have changed a little differently over the years since the countries were divided. Herman loves that the word for hello asks about peace — because real, lasting peace is something only Jesus can give, and that is exactly the good news that most people in North Korea have never been allowed to hear.

What sports or games do kids play in North Korea?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! Kids in North Korea play some of the same games you might recognize — soccer is very popular, and so is volleyball. Table tennis (ping-pong) is a big deal there, and the country has even produced some world-class players. Children also enjoy taekwondo, which is a martial art that started in Korea long ago. Rusty wants to add that schoolchildren in North Korea often learn gymnastics too, and the government organizes big performances where thousands of kids move together in carefully practiced routines. What's different, though, is that most of the games and sports are controlled by the government, and kids have very little free time to just play on their own. Life is quite strict there, and most North Korean children grow up never hearing about Jesus — which is one reason we pray for them, that somehow the good news would reach them.

What's the weather like in North Korea?

North Korea has four seasons, a lot like the eastern United States. Winters are long and very cold — temperatures can drop well below freezing, especially in the north where the mountains are tall and the wind cuts hard. Summers are warm and humid, and most of the rain falls between June and August. The cold winters make life even harder for many North Koreans who already have very little food, fuel, or warm clothing. People there face real hardships that most of us have never had to think about. That is one reason we pray for them — that even in difficult conditions, the love of Jesus would somehow reach them and give them real hope.

Tell me a fun fact about North Korea.

Hey, here's something that might surprise you — North Korea has its own calendar! Instead of calling the year by a number like 2024, they count the years starting from the birthday of their first leader, Kim Il-sung, who was born in 1912. So their year number looks completely different from ours. North Korea also has a city called Pyongyang that is filled with giant statues and monuments, some of them taller than a ten-story building. The government built them to make people worship their leaders almost like gods. That's one of the reasons missionaries and Bibles are not allowed there — the leaders don't want people to know about the one true God who made them and loves them.

What is school like for kids in North Korea?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! School in North Korea is very different from what most kids know. From a young age, children are taught that their country's leaders are almost like gods — and that lesson comes before everything else. Students spend a lot of time learning songs, chants, and stories that praise the government rather than just studying math or reading. Rusty wants to add something important: because of all this, most children in North Korea have never once heard the name of Jesus — not in school, not at home, nowhere. Bibles are hidden or banned, and Christians can be sent to very harsh prisons just for believing. That means kids there grow up without knowing that the real God loves them and sent Jesus to save them. That is one of the most serious prayer needs in the whole world right now — that somehow, some way, the good news about Jesus would reach those children.

Who are the unreached people in North Korea?

Almost everyone in North Korea is unreached — meaning they have never heard the true gospel of Jesus. The government teaches people to worship the country's leaders instead of God, and most North Koreans have never held a Bible or heard who Jesus really is. That makes North Korea one of the hardest-to-reach places on Earth. The Korean people who live there — farmers, factory workers, students, families — are the unreached people group we think about most. There are also small communities of people with different backgrounds, but nearly all of them are cut off from the good news. Some secret believers do exist inside North Korea, meeting quietly and at great risk, and that is a sign that God is already at work even in a very dark place.

How can I pray for the people of North Korea?

North Korea is one of the hardest places in the world to be a Christian right now. The government there wants people to worship its leaders instead of God, and Christians can be sent to prison — or worse — just for owning a Bible. So when we pray for North Korea, we are praying for something that really matters. Here is how you can pray: Ask God to protect the believers who meet in secret and give them courage to keep trusting Jesus. Pray that North Koreans who have never heard about Jesus would somehow hear the good news — through a radio broadcast, a smuggled Bible, or a conversation. Ask God to raise up strong North Korean leaders who will one day be able to teach their own people about Jesus. And pray for the day when His church there can worship Him openly and freely.

What is a holiday or celebration in North Korea?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! One of the biggest celebrations in North Korea is the birthday of Kim Il-sung, the country's first leader, on April 15th. North Koreans call it 'The Day of the Sun.' The government requires people to celebrate with parades, dances, and large gatherings — not because people always want to, but because the rulers demand it. Rusty wants you to notice something important: in North Korea, the leaders are treated almost like gods, and that is very serious. The government tries to make people worship the Kim family instead of the true God. Most North Koreans have never been allowed to hear about Jesus. Christians there have to meet in secret, and if they are caught, they can be sent to prison camps. That is why we pray hard for the people of North Korea — that somehow the good news about Jesus would reach them, even in a place where it is so hard to share.

What language do people speak in North Korea?

People in North Korea speak Korean — the same language spoken in South Korea, just with some different words and a slightly different accent. It is a fascinating language with its own alphabet called Hangul, which was invented hundreds of years ago and is known for being very logical and organized. Here is something worth knowing: the government in North Korea controls almost everything, including which words people are allowed to use. Words connected to Christianity or the Bible can be very dangerous to say out loud there. That makes it even more remarkable that some brave believers inside North Korea still whisper prayers and share the gospel, trusting God to protect them.

What's a famous place to visit in North Korea?

Herman here, with Rusty looking over my shoulder at the map! The most famous place in North Korea is its capital city, Pyongyang. It has wide streets, giant statues, and monuments built to honor the country's rulers. The government is very careful about who gets to visit and what they are allowed to see. Rusty wants to add something important: most people in North Korea cannot move around freely, even inside their own country. Ordinary North Koreans rarely get to visit the grand parts of Pyongyang themselves. What makes us most curious about this land is not the monuments, but the people — millions of men, women, and children who have little access to the Bible or the good news about Jesus. That is worth keeping in mind as we explore this place on our atlas.

North Korea — Kids Missions Explorer

Amur Leopard

One of the rarest big cats on Earth, this spotted leopard quietly roams the forested mountains along North Korea's northern border.

Siberian Tiger

North Korea's national animal, the Siberian tiger is so powerful and rare that most North Koreans have never seen one in the wild.

Red-crowned Crane

This tall, elegant bird with a bright red cap is considered a symbol of long life in Korean culture and winters in the wetlands of the Korean peninsula.

Naengmyeon

These chewy buckwheat noodles are served cold in a tangy broth, and they are one of the most beloved dishes in all of Korean history.

Kimchi

Fermented cabbage packed with spicy, sour flavor, kimchi is eaten at almost every meal and has been made in Korean homes for over a thousand years.

Injojeolmi

These soft, chewy rice cakes rolled in roasted soybean powder are a traditional treat enjoyed at celebrations and holidays across North Korea.

North Korea

Things you should know about North Korea

Wildlife you might meet

What’s on the table

Did you know?

Life in North Korea

Missions in North Korea

Pray for North Korea