Mar_week3 2026 North Korea Prayer
1. "Save my mother locked in a Chinese prison" ··· Demands to stop forced repatriation to North Korea
Kim Geum-seong (far right) holds a press conference on the 12th in front of the Chinese Embassy in Jung-gu, Seoul, alongside officials from Amnesty International Korea. They are calling for an end to the forced repatriation of North Koreans, including Kim’s mother. (Reporter Moon Jae-won)
Article Summary
Kim Geum-seong, who escaped North Korea and arrived in South Korea in 2019, recently learned that his mother is at risk of forced repatriation from China. In response, Kim and Amnesty International Korea held a press conference near the Chinese Embassy in Myeong-dong on the 12th to urge the Chinese government to "stop the forced repatriation of North Koreans." They stated that the Chinese government treats those crossing the border as illegal economic migrants, and despite being a party to the Refugee Convention, China prevents North Koreans from even contacting the UNHCR. According to Amnesty International, at least hundreds of North Koreans have been arrested in China and forcibly repatriated over the past three years. Those sent back face severe risks of human rights violations, including torture, arbitrary detention, forced labor, intentional starvation, and sexual violence. The organizers emphasized, "The Refugee Convention and the Convention Against Torture prohibit the return of individuals to countries where they face the risk of torture or serious human rights violations. This is the established principle of non-refoulement under international law." They urged, "The Chinese government must immediately stop the forced repatriation of North Koreans staying in its territory and allow them to choose a third country where they are not at risk." After the conference, they delivered a petition signed by 2,700 citizens to the Chinese Embassy. [ March 12, 2026 / Kyunghyang Shinmun ]
Prayer Topics
"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)
Lord, please protect Kim Geum-seong’s mother and all North Korean defectors detained in Chinese prisons so they are not forcibly repatriated to North Korea.
Lord, may China—as a member of the UN Security Council and the Human Rights Council—abide by the Refugee Convention and the Convention Against Torture, recognizing North Koreans as refugees and guaranteeing their passage to a third country.
Grant that the basic needs of our North Korean brothers and sisters are met so they no longer have to risk their lives to defect, and let their individual freedoms and human rights be protected.
2. Journalist Ham Jin-woo officially classified as a "detainee in North Korea" after 8 years of disappearance
Missionaries Kim Jung-wook, Choe Chun-gil, and Kim Kuk-gi (from left), who have been detained in North Korea long-term. [Provided by Yonhap News TV]
Article Summary
Ham Jin-woo, a North Korean defector and journalist who went missing in 2017 while reporting near the North Korea-China border, has been officially classified as a detainee in North Korea. The Ministry of Unification's website now states, "It is identified that North Korea is currently detaining a total of seven individuals: missionaries Kim Jung-wook, Kim Kuk-gi, and Choe Chun-gil, along with four North Korean defectors who acquired South Korean citizenship." The names of the four defectors, including Mr. Ham, were not disclosed. This status will be reflected in the "2026 Unification White Paper" to be published soon. According to private organizations, Mr. Ham was working for a media outlet specializing in North Korean affairs when he was abducted by North Korean authorities in May 2017. The three missionaries have been detained for over 11 years, while the others have had no word on their whereabouts or survival for 10 years since early 2016. With his official recognition as a detainee, Mr. Ham’s family is expected to receive compensation. Since November 2023, the Ministry of Unification has provided 15 to 20 million KRW in consolation payments to the families of five out of the six recognized detainees. [ March 11, 2026 / Yonhap News ]
Prayer Topics
"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute." (Proverbs 31:8)
With journalist Ham Jin-woo’s official classification, there are now seven South Korean citizens confirmed as detainees in North Korea. Lord, protect their lives and health, and let them return quickly to their waiting families and churches.
Comfort the families of the detainees, and move the Korean church to pray with one heart for their safe and speedy return.
May the President and the government exert their best efforts to secure the repatriation of our citizens held in North Korea.
3. [The Growing Fortune-Telling Market ③] Fees skyrocket 2–4 times… The rising value of North Korean fortune-tellers
A view of Musan County, North Hamgyong Province, North Korea, taken in August 2013. / Photo = Daily NK
Article Summary
As North Korean residents continue to flock to fortune-telling houses, "consultation fees" have reportedly skyrocketed. A new core clientele has emerged, including officials from the Ministry of State Security and Social Security (often called "uniform-wearers"), party officials, and the wealthy (donju). Fortune-tellers are operating more actively in the shadows, hiking their prices. Sources say that because even the powerful are competing to visit, fortune-tellers act as if they are backed by authority, charging exorbitant fees for readings or rituals to ward off bad luck. Residents who can afford it do not hesitate to spend up to 2,000 Chinese Yuan for these services. Experts suggest that as life becomes more unstable and the future more unpredictable, people turn to fortune-telling for a sense of security. The increase in visits by officials is specifically linked to the recent tightening of state control and the mounting pressure for performance. The analysis suggests that as long as the state excessively controls the lives of the people, the demand for fortune-telling will persist; only a more stable living environment will eventually reduce the reliance on these practices. [ March 10, 2026 / Daily NK ]
Prayer Topics
"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:32)
Lord, have mercy on the North Korean people who, lacking the Truth and having nowhere to lean their hearts, are turning to fortune-tellers. Even those meant to crack down on superstition are now its main customers.
Grant the people of the North the freedom of faith to hear the Gospel and believe in Jesus. May they find the blessing of living under Your guidance by praying to the Lord of all creation.
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