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North Korea

korea

The Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea [DPRK] is probably the most closed country in the world. While the last 20 years have seen the dramatic collapse of Communism in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe and the steady opening up of Asia’s other Communist countries, North Korea has fought hard to remain tightly shut.

Population

  • Population: 23,301,725 [UK: 60,609,153]
  • Density: 192 per square km [UK: 250 per square km]

[Statistics: CIA World Factbook, 2007]

North Korea, like South Korea, is ethnically homogeneous, with a few ethnic Japanese and a small Chinese community beside the Korean majority.

Religions

  • Non-religious 64.31%
  • Traditional ethnic 16%
  • Chondogyo 13.5%
  • Buddhist 4.5%
  • Christian 1.69%

[Operation World]

How to Pray

  • Praise God for the faith of Christians in North Korea. Pray that they will be able to share the good news with trusted friends and family. Pray for grace, mercy and perseverance for persecuted Christians.
  • Praise God that some food aid is reaching the country. Pray that it will get to those who need it.
  • Praise God that some medicinal aid has been accepted by North Korea.
  • Pray that NGOs will feel burdened to serve in North Korea and help to improve the health system. Pray for the safety and effective witness of Christian NGOs in the country.
  • Pray for all those in prison camps in North Korea. Prison staff are taught to regard prisoners as unworthy of respect, mercy or kindness. Pray that God would convict the hearts of prison guards and pour down his grace and mercy on those suffering in unbelievably harsh conditions.
  • Pray that non-Christian prisoners would be struck by the faith of Christian prisoners and hunger to know more.
  • Pray that Kim Jong-Il would discover the reality of the true God. Pray that he will care and work for the good of the North Korean citizens.
  • North Korea is beginning to open up. Pray for wisdom for the South Korean Church in outreach and support to Christians in the North.
  • Praise God for how North Korea has tried to open up to other countries.
  • Pray that it would become a country that the international community can trust. Pray that ongoing mistrust regarding nuclear issues may be resolved.
  • Pray for North Koreans who have gone to South Korea via other countries, that they will be treated with mercy and kindness. Pray for people who help those Koreans.
  • Pray for a just government that honours God and relates well to those in the South.