The Situation in the North
Kim Jong Un's policies that seem to be aimed at creating a more modern and appealing North Korea continue to draw the ire of the ordinary people leading to some new crack downs on complaints. At the same time, there are steady efforts to build the personality cult of the new leader through, among other things, postage stamps, new mosaics (also leading to complaints) and new Kim Jong Un badges. There is also a new effort to court international approval through such things as celebrating Mother's Day for the first time in many years. At the same time the food situation continues to be difficult, particularly as soldiers take to thievery from the fields to gain money of their own.
 
The government continues to struggle to prevent the flow of information into the country and people out. A new ban on travel to China is in force for the period leading up to the first anniversary of the death of Kim Jong Il. In spite of these efforts, information does continue to get in.  
 
It will be a while yet before we are really able to get a sense of the direction in which the new government is taking the country even though it has been a year now since Kim Jong Il died on December 17th of last year. At the same time there are those who continue to do humanitarian work--as Christians--and run businesses--as Christians--in North Korea with little change from before.
 
We continue to pray that Kim Jong Un will bring in new economic policies that truly benefit the people and provide for more openness in real ways. Join us in these prayers.
 
In His Name,
Ben Torrey,