The key ruling elite group has not only enjoyed a luxurious and extravagant life in return of loyalty to Kim Jung Un but also secretly collected personal interests by associating with emerging “masters of money”. However, in the face of increased sanctions by the international societies, such as the United States, Kim Jong Un has been conducting an intensive investigation, punishment, and purging of corruption in order to return centralized funds to the central government. As a result, the power elites are complaining about the loss of economic privileges and the crisis of purging. Moreover, the more sanctions are imposed on North Korea, the more likely it is that their complaints will be amplified. The reason why the number of high-class defectors increases is also related to this situation. The massive uprising may be prevented by sophisticated surveillance and coercive control, but the complaints and frustrations of the power elite group are likely to be a burden to Kim Jong Un and his administration.
You have made the land to quake; you have torn it open; repair its breaches, for it totters. (Psalms 60:2)
In the midst of the economic upheaval, signs of rupture of the system are appearing, such as internal discord in the North elite group. As long as sanctions on North Korea are prolonged, even the military officers of the vested Pyongyang Defense Command and the Escort Command are being penalized for drug trafficking, revealing the systematic disintegration of internal loyalists and the continuous defecting of high-ranking diplomats and party workers. Lord, we pray that this situation would be amplified not only for it to end in a political breakdown, but to let the gospel be spread through this situation so that your kingdom will greatly expand in North Korea.
We pray in the name of Jesus Christs, Amen.
