North Korea is a byword for brutality. The East Asian nation, run by an incredibly repressive regime, is known as one of the worst places in the world to be a Christian.

In a country run as a personality cult, any deviation from expected norms – such as following a religious faith – is punishable by anything up to execution by firing squad. Owning a Bible is enough to get you killed.

But the world is finally sitting up and taking notice. The UN set up an investigation into human rights in North Korea, and the Commission of Inquiry published a damning report last year, which echoed CSW’s findings over the years. The report compared the present day situation to the Holocaust, and urged the world to take strong action for the millions of North Koreans who are suffering right now.

• Thank God for the groundbreaking report by the UN Commission of Inquiry;
• Pray that the strongly-worded report would be read widely, by politicians and other decision makers all over the world, and its recommendations implemented;
• Pray that God would use the UN’s and CSW’s reports to break through into this tragic situation;
• Ask God to protect and heal North Koreans who have managed to flee the horrors of their homeland;
• Pray that China would stop forcing North Korean refugees to return to North Korea, and would allow them safe passage to a third country;
• Pray that North Korea would be referred to the International Criminal Court so that the regime can be brought to justice;
• Pray that one day the walls would come down and the people of North Korea would be declared free.