Hackers leak purported North Korean anti-Christian propaganda video

Internet hackers have reportedly gained access to a live feed of a North Korean television program, which purportedly shows anti-Christian propaganda.

The hackers claimed that they were able to stream the program, which features a number of musical and dance performances, on the site 4chan. An hour of the broadcast has been released on YouTube, according to Premier.

A scene at the 13-minute mark of the video features a Western priest who appears to be terrorizing a mother and a child.

The priest, who is wearing a large cross around his neck, initially approaches the mother and child with a kind demeanor. The mother seems to be receptive to the priest's message as he makes the sign of the cross on her.

She then makes her child accept the priest's faith as well. But when the boy was alone, the priest starts to abuse him. The boy is eventually killed, and the scene ends with the message in Korean reportedly stating, "Don't forget the brutality of U.S. Imperialism."

While the authenticity of the leaked video has not been verified, there have been several reports of anti-Christian propaganda from North Korea featuring priests and missionaries harming children, according to Ben Rogers, the East Asia Team Leader at advocacy charity Christian Solidarity Worldwide.

"While we are unable to verify the source of this video, it is certainly in keeping with the North Korean regime's horrific propaganda against Christians," Rogers told Premier.

He noted that Christians in North Korea are forced to meet in secret due to the lack of religious freedom, and those who are caught face severe punishment in prison camps. He asserted that the government instills a hostility towards Christianity in the population through propaganda.

"The regime is well known for using theatre, films, cartoons and other forms of art in its propaganda war against America, South Korea, Japan and Christianity," Rogers explained.

In October, a woman who was able to escape from the repressive regime shared a testimony in which she explained that North Koreans are taught to hate Christians because they are not capable of "revolutionary acts."

The woman, who goes by the pseudonym Hae Woo, claimed that North Koreans are being told that Christians are killing people in order to sell their blood.

"I heard stories about Christians who went to hospitals, enticed people into cellars, killed them there and sucked the blood out of their bodies so that they could sell it. The thought of it was horrifying to me," she said.

Persecution watchdog group Open Doors believes that there may be 200,000 to 400,000 Christians currently living under the regime. North Korea has been on top of the Open Doors World Watch List for Christian persecution for 16 consecutive years.