Weekly Summary: North Korea (July 21, 2010)
“Praise be to the LORD your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on his throne as king to rule for the LORD your God.” (2 Chronicles 9: 8a)
MARK YOUR CALENDAR:
GLOBAL DAY OF PRAYER FOR NORTH KOREA: 27 July 2010
Resources available at http://www.csw.org.uk/northkorea.htm
IN THIS ISSUE:
NORTH KOREA: Lift up in prayer: incarcerated Gomes and ASEAN dialogue about North Korea and Burma
HOME GROUP PRAYER
North Korea: Lift up in prayer: incarcerated Gomes and ASEAN dialogue about North Korea and Burma
For details, contact admin@csw.org.hk
Aijalon Mahli Gomes walked across the North Korean border in January 2010 and has been sentenced to eight years in a labor camp in North Korea and fined the equivalent of US$700,000 for entering the country illegally and “hostile acts”. On 2 July, the North Korean news agency reported on that the 30 year-old American tried to kill himself and was being hospitalized. Gomes, a Christian believer, had been teaching English in Seoul prior to his capture in the North. The Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang, which has consular access to Gomes, visited him for the eighth time last week on behalf of the U.S. government. Gomes’ capture and imprisonment come amidst the high-profile arrest and release of American Robert Park, a Christian who crossed the frozen Tumen River from China to North Korea on Christmas day in 2009 to highlight North Korea’s human rights abuses, and American journalists, Laura Ling and Euna Lee. The journalists were arrested for illegally entering North Korea and sentenced to 12 years of hard labour, but were subsequently pardoned and released after former President Bill Clinton visited Pyongyang and met the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-il. Discussions regarding Gomes’ condition and release continue during a period of heightened tension on the Korean Peninsula. Following the sinking of the South Korean Navy ship, Cheonan, which killed 46 South Korean sailors on 26 March, an international team of investigators determined that a North Korean torpedo sunk the vessel. South Korea and US will conduct a joint naval exercise in the Pacific Ocean off South Korea, and US authorities Hillary Clinton, the American Secretary of State, and Robert Gates, the US Secretary of Defense, will meet with counterparts in Seoul. ASEAN is also meeting this week in Hanoi, Vietnam and North Korea and Burma are expected to top the agenda.
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HOME GROUP PRAYER
Father God, you hold the plan for North Korea in your palm. We know you love the people of North Korea – including those who have been forced from their homes to live abroad. We believe you are unfolding your purpose and your mercy and justice for this nation whose people have been bowed by evil and repression for so long. Lord, show us how to pray and how to act to support your work in North Korea and in all countries where North Korean refugees are recovering, assimilating and equipping to return to the North. Thank you Lord for using them as your hands and feet and for safeguarding all missionaries now preparing the soil.
Lord, we thank you that you are watching over Aijalon Mahli Gomes. Father we do not know his exact condition, but you do. Lord hear our prayer that his heart, mind and soul be protected during his detention in North Korea. We pray for his release now, Lord, and that his testimony be known to the world for your glory. We pray for all the oppressed in North Korea.
Lord God, we also pray that you preside over the ASEAN talks in Hanoi this week. May wisdom, justice and courage prevail in discussions by political leaders about North Korea and Burma. It’s our prayer that these leaders preside over, debate and rule for you, Lord God.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
