The death of Kim Jong Il, North Korea’s “Dear Leader” and son of this country’s “Eternal President”, Kim Il Sung, did not come as real surprise. Kim Jong Il has been sick for some time.
Words cannot describe Kim Jong Il’s Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea. Poverty is endemic and hunger is widespread. North Korea is locked in a Cold War time warp where the whole nation is on a constant war footing.
Most people barely survive in North Korea while the communist elite receive certain favours and the nation’s leaders are revered as gracious benefactors. The founding president, Kim Il Sung, has been virtually deified as a “god”.
North Korea is often referred to as a totalitarian Stalinist state while many observers highlight Pyongyang’s nuclear capacity and its potential to destabilize a very sensitive part of the world.
After three visits to North Korea in recent times, I understand the country to be a creation of the Cold War and an aggressive Western imperialism manifest during the post-World War Two period. It is also a product of traditional Korean patriarchy grounded in ancient forms of feudalism that demand absolute obedience from its leaders.
The jury is out concerning what may happen with Kim Jong Un taking up the reigns of power. But one thing remains clear to me. The plight of North Korea’s overwhelming majority is a desperate one.
In North Korea nobody will celebrate Christmas this year. There will be no sumptuous luncheons and there will no presents under the Christmas tree. The birth of Jesus Christ will not be acknowledged.
But the good news is that we are able to support certain projects in North Korea through our North Korea Uncompromising Compassion Appeal.
In the far north of the country young children are being given a new lease in life as we offer support for them to receive decent health care and an education. Meanwhile, tuberculosis is killing many North Koreans. Here, we are able to support a TB hospital where many people are being cured while a mobile TB clinic is reaching many communities in isolated villages.
Please spare a thought for North Korea this Christmas. As you sit down for a delicious Christmas meal, remember our brothers and sisters in this sad land.
Pray that God’s love for all humankind, as demonstrated in the birth of the Christ child, may become a reality for all those who suffer in North Korea.
This Christmas spare a thought…..and please offer a prayer…..for our brothers and sisters who are doing it tough in North Korea.
Scene in North Korea
