The US has designated North Korea as a country of special concern for religious freedom for the 22nd consecutive year...Russia and China also

On the 4th (local time), the US government designated North Korea as a country of special concern for religious freedom. This is the 22nd consecutive year that North Korea has been designated as such.
On this day, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued a statement saying, ``Religion and
"Promoting freedom of religion is one of the core aspects of U.S. foreign policy," the statement said, adding that the United States has designated 12 countries, including North Korea, as countries of special religious freedom concern.
The designated countries include North Korea, China, Russia, Myanmar, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, Nicaragua, and Pakistan.
The 12 countries are the same as in 2022: Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. The United States in 1998
Since the enactment of the “International Religious Freedom Act,” the “religious freedom” of each country around the world has been evaluated every year, and religious
Countries where freedom of freedom is not guaranteed are designated as ``countries of special concern'' and ``countries of special observation.'' Secretary Blinken said that al-Gi.
Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan, the Central African Republic, Comoros, and Vietnam were designated as "special monitoring countries." Secretary Blinken said, ``Severe religious freedom violations are occurring in countries not on the list.''
"Governments must stop attacks on religious minority groups." He continued, ``The challenges to religious freedom that are occurring all over the world are structural and solid.
"But thoughtful and sustained commitment to not accepting conditions of persecution and hatred will ensure that all people live with dignity and equality."