For decades now, Christians have hoped and prayed that change would come soon to reclusive North Korea. Generations of missionaries have prepared for the opening of the nation to the gospel, often serving in roles in the border areas, hoping their chance would come to enter the country. Others have entered and worked in business and humanitarian work, accepting the many restrictions put on them, in the hope that one day they could spread the gospel freely. Some brave Chinese believers, who face less restrictions than those of other nationalities, have managed to witness in secret and serve the underground believers. But the breakthrough that has been prayed for so long is yet to come.
There were times when hope was rising. For example, after the death of Kim Jung Il, or at times when the regime seemed wobbly and important people were purged, or when there were moments of significant political engagement with South Korea and the US.
So far, the regime, its repression of the people and its extreme persecution of Christians has survived.
At this time, change seems further away than ever. The Russian war against Ukraine came at a lucky moment for Kim Jung Un. The severe isolation of the Covid border shutdown had weakened the economy further, but selling weapons and young men to Russia is a lucrative business. The South Korean defence institute estimates that North Korea has had 20 billion USD from Russia for their bombs and boys so far. Russia allegedly pays 2,000 Euros a month for a fighting North Korean soldier and 30,000 for a soldier killed in the Russian trenches.
Shifts in the power balance in the world have also benefitted the North Korean regime. Far from being the pariah he once was, Kim Jung Un is now openly embraced by both Putin and Xi. Considering all this, humanly speaking, the chances anything significant will change for ordinary North Koreans is small.
But there are so many things that humanly speaking seemed impossible only a few years ago, such as the many in Afghanis turning to Jesus, defying the threats of the Taliban, or the flourishing of the Iranian house churches despite severe persecution.
As much as it would be fantastic if North Korea became a free nation where people can think and speak and follow Jesus without fear, we do not need to despair if this hoped for change is not forthcoming, because God can both break down evil regimes as well as built his kingdom despite them. And as much as it would be fantastic if the North and South would reconcile and embrace each other as brothers once again, God is already at work breaking the barrier and uniting North and South Koreans in the body of Christ.
But many have a deep conviction that they will see the end of the physical barrier between North and South as well. That is why they prepare, like Noah building an ark on dry land. One pastor told me that his father bought him a plot of land in the DMZ, the four-kilometre-wide stretch of land between the two nations. When the North Korean regime falls and the expected waves of refugees come, the South Korean government is planning to contain them in this zone to prevent chaos. He wants to be ready to house them there and for that reason he is planning to build a village where they can live on this plot of land.
Standing on the border and looking to the hills of North Korea, I watched my brothers and sisters pray and weep for change and reconciliation. The pain of separation is real and the suffering of the North Korean people without measure. It is not as it should be. All these tears are reflecting the hunger and thirst for righteousness, which God’s kingdom only can bring. But the Bible promises that those who hunger for righteousness will be filled. Their waiting and praying will not be in vain.
