It’s no understatement to say that North Korea is one of the most oppressive regimes in the world, imprisoning thousands of its citizens in labour camps and controlling the everyday life of its people in ways that would be unimaginable to us. Though we’ve been seeing some steps towards dialogue between North Korea, South Korea and the United States, there’s still a long way to go before the peninsula is truly on the path to freedom.
Today, please pray for Kim Jong-Un and the North Korean regime – pray that God would change hearts and minds, and that genuine progress can be made through dialogue with South Korea and the United States, leading to true peace on the Korean peninsula, and respect for basic freedoms and human dignity for the people of North Korea.
Pray for everyone imprisoned in North Korea’s gwanliso prison camps – for protection, strength, an end to torture, sexual violence and slave labour, and for their release.
While we watch events unfold on the peninsula and pray for peace, we remember all those who are unable to practise their religion freely and openly in North Korea today. Today, please join us in simply praying for freedom of religion or belief in North Korea.
In our recent report, Movies, Markets and Mass Surveillance, we reported that many North Koreans have a window to the outside world through foreign media smuggled into the country. Pray that God would keep these information flows open – through radio, USB sticks, cultural engagement and other ways.
Many refugees seek escape and safety via China – today, please pray that China would allow them to pass safely through the country to South Korea, and would end its policy of sending them back to North Korea.
Please pray for God’s wisdom, guidance and protection over everyone in the international community working to bring about peace and real change in North Korea.
Heavenly Father who is above all rulers and governments, we bring the nation of North Korea to you today. Please watch over its people as they hunger for media from a world very different to their own, and guide the hearts of its rulers and the international community towards peace and freedom. Amen.
