Apr week1 Prayer for North Korea

1. North Korea, Wages for Withdrawn Chinese Laborers Paid in 'Money Vouchers'

▶ ▶ Article Summary:

It has recently been revealed that contrary to the initial agreement, North Korean authorities paid the wages of laborers who were withdrawn from China entirely in money vouchers. Workers and their families who received paper money vouchers instead of official currency are reportedly angry at the government's actions. According to sources, these laborers, who had been subjected to arduous labor for over six years, working more than 14 hours a day while residing in Chinese companies since before the COVID-19 pandemic, ended up receiving money vouchers. Many of these workers returned home virtually empty-handed, receiving only a small amount of foreign currency in money vouchers, leading to frustration. North Korean authorities issued the Chosun Central Bank money vouchers in 2021 due to the prolonged COVID-19 crisis, which made projects to improve people's lives difficult. However, money vouchers are considered temporary currency that can be suspended at any time, inferior in quality to North Korean won, the official currency. Additionally, the authorities paid the withdrawn laborers at the rate of 1,260 North Korean won per yuan, rather than the actual exchange rate of around 1,700-1,800 won per yuan. After deducting approximately two-thirds as national dues and various other expenses, the workers received monthly wages ranging from as high as 300 yuan (about $41) to as low as 100 yuan (about $14). The issuance of money vouchers instead of official currency by North Korean authorities is interpreted as a cost-saving measure to avoid the expense of printing currency.

[Read more:  https://bit.ly/3U00ngq ]

▶ ▶Prayer Points

“Because of the groaning of the afflicted, because of the sighing of the needy, now I will arise,” says the Lord; “I will set him in the safety for which he longs.” (Psalm 12:5)

○ Have mercy on North Korean workers deployed overseas, who are not only subjected to long hours of labor under surveillance and control in harsh environments but also do not receive proper wages. May the gospel of freedom and democracy unite Korea, enabling North Korean workers to work in accordance with international standards, receive fair treatment for their labor, and live decently.

○ Although overseas labor recruitment is still ongoing in North Korea, reports of labor exploitation, including the use of money vouchers instead of official currency for laborers subjected to harsh labor conditions in China, have led to a shortage of applicants. May the exploitation of labor by the North Korean dictatorship be eradicated, and may the profits from such labor not be diverted to expenses such as the development of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear and missile programs.

2. [Recent News in North Korea] Pilgrimages to Mount Baekdu in the Dead of Winter... "Otherwise One May Suffer Disadvantages" and More

▶ ▶ Article Summary:

Although it is spring according to the seasons, there are still North Korean residents making pilgrimages to Mount Baekdu in the harsh cold of midwinter, braving the piercing winds. The itinerary involves a week-long pilgrimage to sites such as the Kim Il Sung statue and the Millyeong Course, claiming to be the birthplace of Kim Jong Il. Participants must prepare supplementary expenses exceeding the monthly living expenses for a family of four, in addition to the rice they will eat themselves. Local residents in pilgrimage areas also face a significant burden as they must provide side dishes, soup, and necessary items to incoming participants. The Chosun Central TV promoted the pilgrimage, stating that experiencing the biting cold that freezes the hands and feet allows one to understand the resilience, fighting spirit, and revolutionary spirit of the revolutionary predecessors. The Rodong Sinmun boasted about the participation in the pilgrimage, claiming that over the past four years until December of last year, a total of 2,400 groups and 120,000 individuals participated. Indeed, participating in the pilgrimage brings significant benefits, while abstaining results in disadvantages such as postponement of admission to the Party or promotion. This pilgrimage, which began after Kim Jong Un rode a horse to Mount Baekdu in 2019, typically starts at the end of November and does not end until March.

[Read more  : https://bit.ly/3xeMGRz ]

▶ ▶Prayer Points

“They have set up kings, but not by Me; They have appointed princes, but I did not know it. With their silver and gold they have made idols for themselves, That they might be cut off.” (Hosea 8:4)

○ May the idolization of the Kim family's three-generation hereditary dictatorship and the deification of Kim Il Sung's Juche ideology crumble in the northern land, and may the oppressive regime swiftly come to an end.

○ May all North Korean citizens, including the core elite, become aware of the contradictions and severe inhumanity of the North Korean regime and awaken their consciences. May righteous leaders and regime be established in North Korea that prioritize the freedom and human rights of its citizens, as well as the resolution of food shortages and livelihood issues.

3. "If China Shields North Korea's Crimes Against Humanity, It's an Accomplice"

▶ ▶ Article Summary:

A press conference condemning China's forced repatriation of North Korean refugees was held on the 25th at the entrance of the Chinese Embassy in Myeongdong, attended by members of civic organizations such as Lee Sang-won, co-representative of the Nationwide Alliance Against Forced Repatriation of North Korean Defectors, and Defector Mrs. Lee Sun-hee of North Korean Defector Freedom Alliance. They demanded through a statement that the Chinese government: ▲apologize to the world for its inhumane forced repatriation crimes, ▲halt forced repatriation and allow North Korean defectors to go to the country they desire, ▲respect the human rights of North Korean defectors in China and guarantee UN refugee status, ▲exercise influence to improve human rights issues regarding its own citizens under the North Korean regime as a UN Human Rights Council and Security Council permanent member, and ▲if China does not accept these human rights improvements, they demanded China resign from its positions in the UN Human Rights Council and Security Council. Moreover, they criticized that if the Chinese government shields the Kim Jong-un North Korean regime committing crimes against humanity against its people, the Chinese regime, including Xi Jinping, is just an accomplice. Quoting the remarks of Suzanne Scholte, president of the North Korean Freedom Alliance, they emphasized that the international community, including the UN, should pressure the Chinese Communist Party to end its human rights abuses against North Korean defectors and impose international sanctions on those responsible for forced repatriation.

[Read more:   https://bit.ly/3VHOHQI ]

▶ ▶Prayer Points

“For thus says the Lord: "Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the tyrant be rescued, for I will contend with those who contend with you, and I will save your children." (Isaiah 49:25)

○ May the international community, including the UN, pressure the Chinese government to end its human rights abuses against North Korean defectors and publicly disclose the list of individuals responsible for forced repatriation, holding them accountable internationally.

○ Lord, may China now cease the forced repatriation of North Korean defectors and respect the rights of defectors in China by guaranteeing UN refugee status. Furthermore, empower the UN Human Rights Council to exert positive influence to improve human rights issues concerning North Korean regime's treatment of its people.