North Korea and the quest for peace

At this writing, North Korea has been rattling its saber at both the United States and South Korea for some time. Anger over tougher sanctions that have increased pressure on North Korea’s struggling economy is one factor. Kim Jong-un, the country’s new and youthful leader, also has a need to prove himself before the world and—perhaps more important—his own people. 

Rather than being afraid of or despising this country, it’s essential to approach the situation with prayer and an expectation that much-needed healing can occur. This healing prayer can address the overall threat to peace that North Korea’s statements seem to indicate, but it can go much further. 

Christly compassion for these people, most of whom are deprived of basic human rights and live on perpetually short food rations, can strengthen us to insist on their divine rights as God’s children. The government’s reliance on brutality instead of law, its cruel and dehumanizing concentration camps, all claim to be in control of North Korea; our prayers can prove them wrong.

The key to the prison door is the understanding that no matter how hopeless conditions appear or how isolated these people seem to be, specific, healing prayer will make a difference. 

A hunger for God in that country is evident in responses to gospel radio broadcasts from Trans World Radio’s transmitter on the island of Guam. One North Korean listener wrote: “When we listen to your program every night, we are encouraged and find life worth living. If not for the Word of God, and your love and devotion in the midst of our sufferings, our lives would be dark and hopeless.”

The key to the prison door is the understanding that specific, healing prayer will make a difference.

This desire for God’s truth is a useful spur to our prayers and can bring about change, even “a new birth” in North Korea. Mary Baker Eddy’s article on that subject speaks specifically of the role of law in regeneration: “The prominent laws which forward birth in the divine order of Science, are these: ‘Thou shalt have no other gods before me;’ ‘Love thy neighbor as thyself’ ” (Miscellaneous Writings 1883–1896, p. 18 ). 

Whether the “other god” claiming power is North Korea’s young leader or weapons of destruction on either side is not as important as the conviction, based on God’s law, that the one God, divine Love, is present for the people of that country (and any other oppressed land). As Mrs. Eddy writes: “Love is the liberator” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 225 ).

We can insist on this fact, take time to specifically pray with these concepts, and expect progress. That power for good is already present for all these people and their leadership, because infinite Love is everywhere—including North Korea.