As the days grow shorter and the cold of winter increases, our hearts grow heavier for those in North Korea who shiver in darkness, loneliness and fear. The numbers grow with escalating fierceness as the government of Kim Jong Un seeks to clamp down all who look elsewhere for hope.  The news out of the North this past month has been deeply disturbing on a number of fronts.  While the reports have not been verified independently, we hear of 80 people being executed publicly in seven different cities all at that same time for viewing South Korean TV dramas on DVD, possessing Bibles and other foreign corrupting influences all lumped under the label of pornography.  It was reported that eight of that number were machine gunned before an audience of 10,000 forced to watch in Wonsan.  This follows on the execution last August (and reported here) of members of the Unhasu Orchestra (including Kim Jong Un's ex-girlfriend).  Whenever anyone is executed in North Korea, the rest of the family for three generations are sent to labor camps.  Pray for these victims of such cruelty.

But, it is not only North Koreans themselves who suffer.  We have been praying for months for the release of Ken Bae (Pae Jun Ho).  Ken has now been in custody in North Korea longer than any other US Citizen since the Korean War.  Many had hoped that the anniversary of his incarceration would see his release in time to be home with family for American Thanksgiving Day. But, alas, no... And now we learn that yet another American, an 85-year-old grandfather, Merrill Newman of Palo Alto, CA, was taken off his plane just before it took off following a ten-day tour of North Korea.  This happened in October but we just heard word about a week ago. We do not know why he was taken nor where he is. Needless to say, his family is suffering a great deal and we are sure that he is experiencing a lots of fear and hardship.  The situation in North Korea seems to be getting a bit much for even China to take.

In the meantime, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un seems set on making a name for himself as master builder and master entertainer.  Throughout this year, he has been buildingwater parks, exercise facilities, theme parks, ski resorts, etc. and is reaching out for even more foreign (mostly Chinese) investment in his projects to portray North Korea as the "go to place" for foreign tourists (despite the risks to aged American tourists...)  All this while the people continue to suffer and grow increasingly disillusioned, especially with blatantly false reports coming from the official media.

It is difficult to assess what Kim Jong Un is thinking.  Even long-time North Korea watchers are in a quandary. His foreign policy and his domestic policy seem to be at odds.  He also wants to attract foreign investment and ease tensions, yet he keeps doing all these things we have seen above and actively participating in foreign adventures such as the Syrian civil war where he is helping Assad.

As this difficult year draws to a close, we cry out to God for mercy and justice. O Lord, hear the cry of your people for the land and people of North Korea!
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