Dec week1 Prayer for North Korea

1."National Assembly Adopts Resolution Urging China to Halt Forced Repatriation of North Korean Defectors...7 Opposing Members, Including Yoon Mi-hyang, Abstain"

▶ ▶ Article Summary:

The National Assembly has adopted a resolution urging China to cease the forced repatriation of North Korean defectors and recognize them as refugees. The resolution calls for the immediate cessation of China's forced repatriation of North Korean defectors while urging cooperation for their recognition as refugees to move to South Korea or a third country. It also includes a plea to the South Korean government to make diplomatic efforts targeting relevant countries and the international community regarding the issue of the forced repatriation of North Korean defectors. The resolution, proposed and unified by lawmakers including Ji Sung-ho from the People Power Party, addresses the issue of forced repatriation. Earlier, Floor Leader Yoon Jae-ok emphasized in his speech as the representative of the negotiation bloc that the government and ruling party will devise measures to prevent the forced repatriation of North Korean defectors. In the vote held on the same day, out of 260 participating members, 253 voted in favor, while Yoon Mi-hyang, an independent member, and legislators Kang Sung-hee of the progressive party, Kang Eun-mi of the Justice Party, Kim Jung-ho, Min Hyeong-bae, Baek Hye-ryeon, and Shin Jung-hoon from the Democratic Party of Korea abstained.

[Read more: https://url.kr/n2jwz9 ]

▶ ▶Prayer Points

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute." (Proverbs 31:8)

○ Thank the Lord for the adoption of the resolution urging China to halt the forced repatriation of North Korean defectors in the National Assembly. Pray for continued unity among South Korean lawmakers in addressing North Korean human rights issues.

○ Pray for the intervention of the international community, especially that China recognizes North Korean defectors as refugees according to the UN Convention against Torture and other international agreements.

○ Pray for the liberation and freedom of North Korean defectors living under the oppression of the third-generation hereditary dictatorship in North Korea. Pray for the swift realization of the gospel-driven reunification of Korea under freedom and democracy.

2."North Korean Hacking Organization Exploits 'Apple Operating System' for Cryptocurrency Theft... Funding for the Regime"

▶ ▶ Article Summary

It has been suggested that North Korean hacking organizations are engaging in attacks using the Apple computer operating system to secure funds for the regime. On the 28th, the U.S. information technology security company 'SentinelOne' revealed in a report the activities of North Korea's prominent hacking group, 'Lazarus,' and its subsidiary organization, 'Bluenoroff,' utilizing Apple's computer operating system (MacOS) for hacking attacks to fund the regime. The related report stated that through hacking attack operations, malicious codes were disseminated, noting, "These malicious codes are being used to attack cryptocurrency exchanges and other financial institutions to secure funds for the Kim Jong-un regime." The security researcher responsible for Apple's operating system security warned that North Korea is targeting Apple's MacOS, known for its closed operating system, as it is difficult to hack, aiming to exploit users' low guard against cybercrime. It emphasized the need for Apple product users to be aware that they could be targets of cybercrime.

[Read more: https://url.kr/yslcng ]

▶ ▶Prayer Points

"He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity." (Psalm 98:9)

○ Pray that the international cybercrimes committed by North Korea, including the exploitation of the Apple operating system for cryptocurrency theft, be exposed in the light, leading to a united international effort to counter such illegal activities and block the supply of illegal funds supporting the regime.

○ Ask the Lord to neutralize all illegal attempts by the North Korean regime through its organized hacker unit, and pray for a swift unification under freedom and democracy, transforming these hacker unit members into skilled IT professionals contributing to industrial development.

3. "Inter-Korean Exchange Cooperation Fund, Previously Used for North Korean Organizations, to be Allocated for North Korean Defectors"

▶ ▶ Article Summary:

There are prospects that the "Inter-Korean Exchange Cooperation Fund," previously provided to organizations involved in North-South exchanges and North Korean support, will now be utilized to support North Korean defectors and North Korean human rights organizations living in Seoul. The responsible department name is also expected to change from 'Inter-Korean Cooperation' to 'Peace-Based Foundation Formation.' There have been ongoing discussions on amending the "Ordinance on Inter-Korean Exchange Cooperation," which drew controversy during Mayor Park Won-soon's tenure for allegedly distributing the fund to "pro-North" organizations. A proposed amendment, submitted by Seoul Metropolitan Council members, including Ok Jae-eun of the People Power Party, has passed the Administrative and Self-Governing Committee of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, and given the majority representation of the People Power Party, the likelihood of passage in the full session is high. The key point of the amendment is to expand the fund's scope from North-South exchanges to include support for North Korean defectors' settlement and projects for the enhancement and awareness improvement of North Korean human rights. The ordinance's title will also be changed to the "Ordinance on Inter-Korean Exchange Cooperation and the Establishment of Peaceful Unification Foundation." A Seoul city official stated, "This is an attempt to expand the fund's scope amid the frozen inter-Korean relations." The number of North Korean defectors living in Seoul is 6,473, representing one in five defectors nationwide. Notably, a third of North Korean defectors are living alone, and 61% of those aged 60 and above are reported to live alone. Additionally, one in four North Korean defectors is a recipient of livelihood support. The fund is operated by 15 metropolitan and provincial governments, totaling KRW 1.734 trillion in size, with Daegu (KRW 5.3 billion) and Ulsan (KRW 2 billion) having abolished the fund last year.

[ Read more: https://url.kr/d7qpox ]

▶ ▶ Prayer Topics:

"Administer justice for the orphan and the widow, and love the stranger, providing food and clothing. Therefore, love the stranger..." (Deuteronomy 10:18-19)

○ Pray that the amendment regarding the "Inter-Korean Exchange Cooperation Ordinance" is smoothly passed in the Seoul Metropolitan Council, enabling the Inter-Korean Exchange Cooperation Fund to be appropriately and ethically used for North Korean human rights enhancement and the support of North Korean defectors.

○ Pray for the well-being of North Korean defectors who risked their lives to enter South Korea. May Korean churches faithfully follow the Lord's command to love strangers, embracing these defectors with care, prayer, and support, making them feel like a family.

○ Many North Korean defectors who believed in Jesus during their defection process do not continue their faith journey upon entering South Korea. Pray that the Lord, who led them to the free land of South Korea, would bring significant spiritual progress to them, training them to become disciples of Christ and instruments of the Gospel for the reunification of Korea.