December 21, 2011
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How to Pray for North Korea
In case you somehow haven’t heard, the leader/dictator of North Korea, Kim Jong Il, passed away last Saturday. The whole country of North Korea is in a state of mourning for twelve days, although it is hard to tell between who is mourning for real and who is mourning out of fear of being punished and even executed if they do not express grief.
Here is a clip of the mourning when the “father of the nation” Kim Il Sung died back in 1993. People literally died from mourning. Some NK defectors later confessed many outside the capital mourned more out of fear, but that those in the capital (who are the privileged ones protected by the government) were genuinely mourning. If you did not mourn at the time you would not receive food rations and could be put in a prison camp (concentration camp)…
Here is a clip of the mourning of the “son of the nation” Kim Jong Il. Many defectors are saying most of the mourning is fake out of fear of losing favor with the government and even facing the prison camps. The religion/cult of North Korea is falling apart, but the fear that controls the nation is still very strong…
North Korea is also still very isolated from the rest of the world. Students only know of their own leaders and other communist leaders like Stalin and Mao. They aren’t aware of other world leaders. North Koreans all believe South Korea is in shambles and is a puppet government to their great enemy the United States. Only those along the border of China who have contacts with the outside world have discovered the truth.
Now North Korea is being run by Kim Jong Il’s son Kim Jong Un. The son is also being helped by his aunt and uncle who are likely making the most important decisions now, with Jong Un as the visible leader. There are also reports of a rising general who also has high influence. The military as of now is backing Kim Jong Un, so many experts who are watching North Korea don’t believe there will be any sudden changes in the nation right away… but there is little faith in the country remaining stable for too long.
Personally, if I were Kim Jong Un, I would be extremely nervous. He is young (late 20′s) and inexperienced. He only just received authority and the few things he has apparently had his hand in have failed dramatically (including the botched market reform). The situation in North Korea reminds me of the situation in Israel in the book 2Kings, chapters 13 – 15. There was a lineage of King Jehu of Israel that became more and more evil. While Jeroboam lived a long life, when his son Zechariah took over he only reigned 6 months before being assassinated. Another example would be Pekah, Jotham, and Hoshea (chapters 15 -17)… another lineage of kings that grew worse and worse until Hoshea was also overthrown.
I personally feel Kim Jong Un does not have long to lead unless he rules with a strong iron fist (more oppression of the people) and compromises with China (leading to more influence/control by China, and continued religious oppression). Kim Jong Un in power does not benefit the people of North Korea in any way. The lineage of Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il, and now Kim Jong Un have already demonstrated that they have no interest in the welfare of their people… only the elite. Millions are starving to death as they have continued their nuclear weapons manufacturing and lived as royalty in the capital (where no handicapped or poor are allowed).
If there is a power struggle, then there is much more at stake than a civil war or many assassinations… North Korea has nuclear weapons and missiles and bombs all over the country, with most of them pointed at South Korea. If a North Korean general were to try and exert force, things could easily get out of hand and many innocent lives could be taken in the process.
So how should we be praying? Here are some prayer requests for North Korea…
1. Please pray for grace to cover the peninsula of Korea (both North and South) so that no madman will gain control of the nuclear weapons (this includes that there will be no selling of nuclear weapons to Iran, the Taliban, Hamas, or any other terrorist organization).
2. Please pray for the spirits of idolatry and fear that are over the nation to be broken off. Pray for the people of North Korea to receive God’s grace and be able to look to God rather than man during these difficult times. Please pray for the nation to be prepared for the Gospel and for the poor and oppressed to be provided for.
3. Please pray for Christian men and women of favor to rise up in the government and have influence with Kim Jong Un and other leaders, much like Joseph, Mordecai, Esther, Daniel, and Nehemiah had influence with kings in the Bible. Pray that the new leadership of North Korea would be directed by God’s wisdom rather than any other influence.
4. Please pray a disallowing of China taking control of North Korea and also pray for justice and freedom to mark the land. Please pray for North and South Korea to become more greatly prepared for reunification. Pray for South Koreans to take a greater interest in their brothers and sisters to the north.
5. For me personally, please pray for Sky and me and our church to have clear direction in how to pray for North Korea. Please pray that God will continue to prepare Sky and me to have greater influence in Korea and soon be able to care for the children of North Korea.
If China takes control, then the nation will remain under religious oppression and I believe many promises God has for Korea will be delayed. North Korea’s only strong ally is China, and from China’s reaction to Kim Jong Il’s passing it appears China has a lot of interest in the country.
South Korea hasn’t reacted much at all to Kim Jong Il’s passing. When Kim Il Sung died, South Koreans celebrated. At that time the two countries were clear enemies. But now most South Koreans are indifferent to North Korea. While it is good the hate is dissipating, South Korea still needs to rediscover their connection with North Korea and grow a strong compassion for their relatives who are suffering in the north.
Thank you for your prayers for Korea! God bless!
