In September, shocking testimonies emerged that five male members of the family of Park Hee-cheol, the Director of the Political Bureau of the People’s Army, including his two sons and two-year-old grandson, were publicly executed at a military academy in Pyongyang. The purges did not stop with Park Hee-cheol’s family; punishments were extended to military officials he had appointed and his direct subordinates, resulting in the deaths of at least several hundred people. It has been claimed that the reason for the purges was Park Hee-cheol’s establishment of power within the military using his personnel authority. We pray that the reign of terror will cease, and that this situation may open people’s hearts to the Gospel.
“You are indeed awesome; who can stand before you when you are angry? When you pronounce judgment from heaven, the earth fears and is still; when God rises up to judge, to save all the oppressed of the earth.” Psalm 76:7-9 (North Korean version of the Bible). We lift up the pride of Kim Jong-un, who rules with cruelty beyond measure, and plead for mercy. May both the leaders and the people of North Korea come to fear the One who is truly to be feared, and may the hearts of the North Korean officials, shaken by the politics of fear, be opened to the Gospel, allowing the Kingdom of God to expand within them. We pray that soon an environment will be established in North Korea where the Gospel can be freely proclaimed, making it a nation that exalts and worships only God.
We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen!
