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Eye on the World: North Korea
North Korea’s rhetoric last week included talk of a “preemptive nuclear attack” and “all-out war,” as well as threats to withdraw from the Korean War armistice that’s been in place since 1953.
On Monday, as the United States and South Korea conducted war exercises, North Korea cut off a phone hotline to the South and apparently voided the armistice. Though neither move is new — the hotline has been cut off before and North Korea withdrew from the armistice in 2009 and half a dozen times before that — tensions on the peninsula are high. Some observers worry that the presence of South Korean and American troops could lead to escalation.
A recent audio chat, “For peace in the Asia Pacific,” focuses (in its second half) on tension on the Korean Peninsula, and on how prayer can be an antidote to conflict. Our prayers, recognizing that all of God’s children reflect honesty, meekness, and spiritual courage, can have an effect on the world stage, paving the way for solutions that bring about security for all.
“For freedom in North Korea” acknowledges that diplomatic measures are important, but also asserts that prayer is an essential component in preserving international stability. As our prayers embrace all of God’s children — including North Korean leaders and citizens — we’ll increasingly witness how God, Truth, removes totalitarianism and other barriers to spiritual and international progress. The author notes, “We cannot be numbed into believing that the situation in North Korea is hopeless or that Love is not present.”
You may also want to read “Reversing the spread of nuclear weapons,” a Sentinel editorial written several years ago during another period of great tension between North Korea and the international community. The article says that even during times of uncertainty, the spread of fear — as well as the spread of nuclear weapons — are outmatched by the peaceful presence of God, who brings nothing but harmony to His children. This kind of “pragmatic spiritual action” is a powerful response to nuclear threats, and to fear of all kinds.