Written by: INcontext
Article source: www.incontextinternational.org
On Friday 18 June, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un formally acknowledged that his country is facing food shortages. Addressing a meeting of senior leaders, he pointed out that the agricultural sector had missed its grain targets due to flooding caused by typhoons late last year.
During the meeting, Mr Kim also promised to navigate his country out of their deepening economic crisis and urged officials to prepare for dialogue and confrontation with the United States.
Ongoing international sanctions over North Korea’s nuclear programme, together with COVID-19 restrictions which have kept their border closed to neighbour and ally, China, has exacerbated the country’s food security crisis.
It is unusual for the traditionally secretive country to publicly admit to government failure. The North Korean famine of the late 1990s saw an estimated 250,000 to over one million people die of starvation and hunger-related disease, due largely to the country’s lack of transparency and isolation.
In August 2020, North Korea allowed assistance from the Red Cross in response to the flooding disaster. This showed a shift in North Korea’s leadership, and the most recent openness heralds yet another opportunity for the international community to reach out to this isolated nation.
North Korea is home to over 25 million people. According to the Joshua Project, about 68.8% of the population is non-religious and 99.3% is considered ‘unreached’ with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
According to the Open Doors World Watch List, North Korea has ranked number one for the 20th year in a row as the country where Christians face the most extreme persecution. A follower of Christ faces a death sentence or imprisonment in a labour camp where an estimated 50,000 – 70,000 Christians are currently incarcerated.
Please join with us in praying for North Korea, that these current crises could lead to a greater openness and further opportunities for the international community to express the compassionate heart of Christ towards this often despised nation.
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Date published: 26/06/2021
Feature image: Image for illustrative purposes only.
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