The loss of foreign currency and vital supplies from the border lockdown due to Covid, the failure of field crops, and devastating typhoons that flooded the country last year, among other factors, have led the North Korean regime into a desperate situation leading to desperate measures.
This includes an increased systematic export of workers from North Korea to Mongolia to bring income into the country. Daily NK reports that "around 200 workers are set to head to Mongolia in early May. The group of workers is made up of 60% males and 40 females: the men will work on agricultural and livestock farms while the women will work in textile factories."
Each worker is put through a series of health screenings in order to be cleared for entering another country, and some workers succeed in bribing their way through the tests in order to pass all of the exams.
"On average, overseas workers are $3,000 in debt due to bribes made during the recruitment process or because of costly travel fees. While they all plan to repay this debt with the money earned abroad, this is not an easy proposition given that they face excessive demands to contribute to “party funds” once they are dispatched to foreign countries" (Daily NK).
When all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, 'Go to Joseph. What he says to you, do.' So when the famine had spread over all the land, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt. Moreover, all the earth came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth. Genesis 41:55-57
Father God, we pray that You would save Your people in North Korea, as You saved Your people in the time of famine in Egypt. We pray that, like Joseph, You would open the storehouses for North Korea and provide for them. Be a rock of refuge to which they may continually come. Rescue them, O God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man. May their accusers be put to shame and accused. Fill their mouth with your praise (Psalm 73). In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Comments