Aug week1 Prayer for North Korea
1.What Happened? A North Korean Defector Sent Money, and Less Than Two Hours Later, She Was Dead
The picture shows houses in the border region of North Hamgyong Province, North Korea, taken in June 2019. /Photo credit: Daily NK
Article Summary
A tragic incident occurred in Orang County, North Hamgyong Province, where a woman in her 60s was fatally stabbed by an unknown assailant. The incident happened shortly after she received money from her family members who had defected from North Korea. The woman, who had been living alone since her husband passed away three years ago, received 9,000 yuan (approximately 1.72 million KRW) from her defector family and called her sister to share the news. Her sister visited her house about two hours later and found her bleeding and lifeless. It is suspected that a robber, aware of the money she received, broke into her house to steal it and stabbed her during a struggle. The perpetrator has not been apprehended. The woman, known for her good relationships with others, left the community in shock. A source stated, “Such incidents happen because young people, who are hungry and at an age when they should be eating well, band together to commit robberies. To resolve these socially destabilizing incidents, the state must first address the issue of food scarcity.”
Read the article here
Prayer Requests
"The LORD says, 'Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan, I will now arise,' says the LORD. 'I will protect them from those who malign them.'" (Psalm 12:5)
ￏ Due to extreme economic hardship, violent crimes such as robbery and theft are rampant among North Korean residents. Lord, have mercy on the North Korean people who are suffering from poverty, hunger, and insecure public safety.
ￏ The Kim Jong-un regime squanders most of the national finances on the development of nuclear weapons, missiles, and the deification of the Kim family, neglecting the basic needs of the people. Lord, we pray that North Korea will soon have leaders who respect human life and rights and prioritize the welfare of its citizens.
2. North Korea Rejects China’s Offer to Rescue Residents Isolated by Heavy Rain
Comparison images of the interior (north side) of Yuhua Island in North Korea before and after flooding.
Article Summary
During heavy rains in North Korea's northern region, Chinese authorities expressed their willingness to rescue North Korean residents isolated on islands in the Yalu River. However, North Korean authorities rejected the offer due to concerns about potential defections. According to sources, by the evening of the 27th, continuous downpours had caused the Yalu River to rise to dangerous levels. Discussions took place between the Public Security Bureau of Dandong City, China, and the Security Bureau of North Pyongan Province, North Korea, about opening floodgates at certain power stations on the Yalu River. Given that the river was already swollen, opening the floodgates would inevitably submerge the islands downstream. The Public Security Bureau of Dandong City recommended relocating the island residents to China for safety, but sources reported that Kim Jong-un rejected this suggestion. Kim Jong-un's refusal was based on concerns that residents might flee to South Korea if evacuated to China. As night fell, helicopter rescues became impossible, leading to the deaths of many isolated residents. Some South Korean media reported that up to 1,500 North Korean residents were either dead or missing. The catastrophic flooding in Sinuiju has been criticized as a man-made disaster caused by the Kim Jong-un regime.
Read the article here
Prayer Requests
"For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help." (Psalm 72:4)
ￏ Lord, please look after the North Korean residents suffering from the flood, and protect them from further casualties.
ￏ Although the North Korean authorities broadcasted images of Kim Jong-un directing rescue operations to promote his image as a 'compassionate leader,' the reality is that his regime rejected China's offer to safely evacuate the isolated residents due to fears of defection. Lord, remember the North Korean people who lost their chance for rescue and perished due to misguided leadership focused solely on regime preservation.
ￏ May the Juche ideology, deification of the Kim family, and the three-generation hereditary dictatorship in North Korea come to an end soon. We pray that the North Korean people will soon live in a normal country with disaster management capabilities and social safety nets, where they can reside in safe housing.
3. Yoo Ji-tae, Sincere About 'North Korean Human Rights'... "Injustice Thrives on Indifference" English Speech
Yoo Ji-tae, the actor and South Korean Ministry of Unification's Ambassador for North Korean Human Rights, speaks at the '2024 International Dialogue on North Korean Human Rights' hosted by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) on the 22nd. /NED
Article Summary
Actor Yoo Ji-tae attended the '2024 International Dialogue on North Korean Human Rights,' jointly hosted by the South Korean Ministry of Unification and the National Endowment for Democracy, in Washington, D.C., on the 22nd. He delivered a six-minute speech in English, urging attention to North Korean human rights issues. Yoo stated, "What fosters injustice is not the injustice itself but our indifference." When he was appointed as the Ambassador for North Korean Human Rights in June, Yoo emphasized that every Korean should consider North Korean human rights at least once. Yoo has also been involved in the webtoon "Ankki," co-created with cartoonist Zephygaru, which addresses the hardships and forced repatriation faced by North Korean defectors in China. He highlighted that women who flee North Korea often endure severe human rights abuses and prolonged periods of starvation during their escape. Yoo clarified that the focus on North Korean human rights is about the "people" inside North Korea, not a politically charged issue. This reflects a stance that the issue should not be a partisan political matter but a universal human rights concern. Currently, the North Korean Human Rights Foundation has not been launched for eight years due to political conflicts over board appointments. Human rights activists hope that Yoo's involvement will significantly raise awareness of North Korean human rights both domestically and internationally.
Read the article here
Prayer Requests
"Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering." (Hebrews 13:3)
ￏ Lord, please let Yoo Ji-tae's efforts as the Ambassador for North Korean Human Rights raise significant domestic and international awareness, leading to the cessation of forced repatriation of North Korean defectors by China and genuine improvements in the human rights situation for North Korean residents.
ￏ May people from various sectors, including the Christian community, political sphere, broadcasting, arts, intellectuals, and youth, resonate with and pay attention to the issue of North Korean human rights. Let more domestic and international celebrities join in voicing their concerns, laying the groundwork for peaceful reunification under a free democracy.
ￏ Recently, the Ministry of Unification sent a request to the 22nd National Assembly to recommend directors for the North Korean Human Rights Foundation and members for the 2nd North Korean Human Rights Promotion Advisory Committee. May our National Assembly treat the North Korean human rights issue as an urgent matter beyond political logic and quickly recommend appropriate individuals for these roles. Allow these organizations to be launched and operate smoothly.
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