Lord, might your kingdom are available North Korea

As I stared out throughout the river my prayer got here as simply as drawing breath: “Lord, might your kingdom are available North Korea as it’s in heaven”.

I used to be standing on the southerly fringe of a considerably underwhelming divide between two vastly totally different international locations. For some cause I had anticipated extra. Something extra uncommon or definitive maybe, however this was only a murky brown river. Yet I knew that on the alternative riverbank, hidden from view, had been lots of of metres of landmines, razor wire and extra navy lookout posts. Beyond that, thousands and thousands dwelling on this planet’s most repressive nation underneath a chaotic, despotic regime the place easy on a regular basis acts would possibly result in a demise sentence – watching South Korean tv as an example. Or praying to God simply as I had carried out.

I’m positive all of us have these particular locations that sit with us and urge a prayer for God’s kingdom to come back there similar to it’s in heaven. Perhaps typically it is a quiet whispered prayer for the place the place we reside, and at different occasions it comes as a daring declaration of hope for the long run. Whenever I journey I normally discover myself stirred sooner or later throughout my go to to wish that easy prayer inviting and imploring God to deliver His kingdom and all that fantastic promise accommodates – the peace, justice, righteousness and freedom that’s the Kingdom of God.

This time as I prayed and requested God to deliver his kingdom to North Korea I felt extra acutely the gulf between the fact of the nation I used to be praying for and the approaching Kingdom of Christ. Through binoculars I may see the tiny block-built homes, the ‘Tower of Life’ obelisk devoted to the Kim dynasty which stands close to the border, equivalent to 1000’s of others erected throughout the nation as a continuing seen reminder of the Kims’ absolute energy. And as I silently prayed for a bunch of North Korean troopers who had been staring again in direction of me, the rain began to fall and the eeriest of sounds echoed throughout the river. In response to South Korean loudspeakers which direct Okay-Pop music over the demilitarised zone, the North Koreans have arrange a large PA system which broadcasts a weird sound just like white noise, solely one way or the other much more discordant and disturbing.

I used to be in Korea for the launch of CSW’s newest report on the scenario of human rights in North Korea and the plight of Christian teams particularly. We launched to a packed room in Seoul and had been welcomed by authorities officers, church leaders, NGO companions and teachers alike. Most importantly we frolicked with defectors who had risked every part to flee to South Korea. Escapees like my good friend Jun, a younger man who travelled secretly by way of North Korea and China in a bid for freedom.

Jun had grown up in a comparatively middle-class household, besides they confronted fixed starvation. He informed me his middle-class standing allowed him the luxurious of a single egg per week on high of the meagre allowance of grain. He confirmed me footage taken after his arrival in South Korea which present an emaciated teenager that bore little resemblance to the younger man I met.

For 10 months Jun walked in each day worry of being found by Chinese authorities who would forcibly return him to North Korea. If returned he would have confronted torture, imprisonment or execution for leaving the nation. The three key questions which can be requested of every returnee are: “have you ever watched South Korean media?”, “have you ever considered pornography?” and “have you ever had contact with Christians?”. An affirmative reply to any of these questions is prone to end in your pressured disappearance and/or execution by firing squad.

Jun additionally informed me that he had by no means met a Christian till he arrived in China; being a follower of Jesus in North Korea is unbelievably troublesome and dangerous. If found Christians are handled as in the event that they had been terrorists committing treason. Churches are tiny and remoted, assembly in household houses, all the time in secret.

CSW’s newest report comes 10 years after the publication of a landmark report by the United Nations Commission of Inquiry on North Korea and considers what has modified within the nation. Sadly, the brief reply is that there was no enchancment. While the world has modified vastly over the previous ten years the scenario in North Korea is simply as bleak because it was when the COI was launched. The report is meant to, as soon as once more, name consideration to this evil regime and asks the world to not look away and to not neglect the plight of North Koreans however as a substitute communicate up and pray for change in that nation.

And in order I replicate on my time in Korea I discover myself praying once more with confidence and hope: “Lord, might your kingdom are available North Korea!”.

Scot Bower is the CEO of Christian Solidarity Worldwide.