According to data from the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO), North Korea has the 16th highest suicide rate globally, with 9.4 suicides per 100,000 people. Some analyze the cause as North Korea's coercive and strict atmosphere, and economic difficulties, but North Korean defectors state differently. According to the defectors, "suicide in North Korea is a crime of treason. The children and family members of a person who committed suicide are punished at the level of a political prisoner, and they would not receive sympathy from their relatives or close neighbors. Therefore, there are no cases of suicide.” North Korean Human Rights Commission, an American human rights group, pointed out that in many cases, deaths resulting from human rights violations in detention facilities in North Korea are treated as suicide. We pray that North Korea will become free as soon as possible and be able to have the blessing of worshiping God.
“Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are enslaving, and I have remembered my covenant. I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.” Exodus 6:5,7
Lord, we pray that you remember the groans of the North Koreans who are suffering under tyranny and oppression. Also, please judge the evil of the North Korean authorities, who are disguising the horrors of national human rights violations as an individual act of suicide. We pray Lord, that you rescue the North Korean people suffering from the long period of imprisonment, and may they come to know you and have the blessing of worshiping you.
We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.