The Unpunished Murder of a North Korean Defector in China

North Korean defectors in China find themselves caught in a relentless storm of vulnerability and helplessness. Stripped of their fundamental rights and any semblance of international protection, their isolated lives in appalling conditions are marred by a precarious dance between staying invisible and struggling to survive. 

A CASE OF MURDER

A recent case that underscores the dire situation of defectors in China involves a tragic murder of a North Korean by her husband in rural Liaoning province. The victim, who had defected from North Korea’s Ryanggang province in 2010 and was sold into a forced marriage, endured years of domestic violence by her ethnic Korean Chinese husband while performing hard agricultural labor. Although she was under constant surveillance and abuse, she reportedly endured the horrific treatment in order to send money back to her family in the North. After years of abuse and a life without hope, her recent attempt to escape to South Korea for freedom sadly led to a fatal confrontation with her husband, who beat and killed her with a knife on the spot. 

Shockingly, her husband faced no legal consequences even after confessing his crime of murder. The Chinese police released him without proper investigation and “protected him simply because he’s Chinese and she was a North Korean defector,” according to a source from DailyNK. 

LEGAL INVISIBILITY OF DEFECTORS

This tragic case sparked fear among defectors in China while highlighting the lack of legal protections for North Koreans in China and the impunity enjoyed by their abusers. According to a 2019 report by Korea Future Initiative, tens of thousands of North Korean women and girls become a part of the sex trade in China that generates roughly $105 million USD annually. Over 30 percent of defectors in China are sold into forced marriage to meet the needs of China’s “long-standing one-child policy and penchant for sons” that led to grave gender imbalance and difficulties for Chinese men to find wives. 

Unfortunately, defectors in China have no official status or state recognition, making them ineligible for any form of legal recourse. The Chinese government’s stringent policies towards defectors exacerbate this problem, often viewing them as economic migrants rather than refugees, thus stripping them of potential protections under international law. As a result, when victims of bride trafficking face domestic abuse, whether physical or psychological, they would not risk reporting to the authorities as it could lead to arrest, detention and ultimately deportation back to their home country, where they face severe punishment, including imprisonment, torture and even execution. 

WHY CAN’T INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES HELP?

In short, the classification of defectors as economic migrants prevents other countries, the United Nations and NGOs from intervening effectively. Without official recognition as refugees, defectors cannot claim asylum or benefit from the protections afforded under international conventions, leaving them in a legal limbo with no support when faced with abuse in China.

Meanwhile, the role of humanitarian organizations is becoming limited. While NGOs like Crossing Borders play a crucial role in providing aid and support to defectors, their efforts are often hindered by the need for secrecy and the risk of government crackdowns. Therefore, their ability to address sensitive cases of domestic abuse, which are private in nature, is particularly constrained. This is further exacerbated by the necessity to remain concealed, thereby making it challenging for defectors to seek assistance.

Consequently, even though Chinese law criminalizes murder, and this applies to all individuals within China’s borders, including North Korean defectors, holding individuals liable for the death of North Korean defectors in China presents significant challenges due to the unrecorded and unidentifiable nature of defectors. This issue is further complicated by the potential diplomatic repercussions that such cases might provoke between Beijing and Pyongyang. The complexities and potential costs associated with addressing these incidents often lead to a reluctance to pursue justice, keeping these matters off the record, like the recent murder in Liaoning province. Moreover, the perceived indifference of the North Korean government towards the lives of its citizens exacerbates this issue, contributing to the lack of accountability and protection for defectors. As a result, it is likely that the thirst to survive, albeit in fear, would continue to force many defectors in China to endure abuse in silence.

The Chilling Reality of Surviving Harsh North Korean Winters

As the Korean Peninsula faces one of its most severe cold spells in recent years, the impact on daily lives in North Korea has been profound. Temperatures have plummeted to record lows, with Pyongyang experiencing minus 16 degrees Celsius and even colder in mountainous regions like Mount Paektu on the border with China. State media has recorded some four degrees Celsius below seasonal averages and has issued cold weather alerts across the country, urging North Koreans to properly insulate their homes and make sure objects are not blown away in the strong winds. While South Koreans have access to modern heating solutions, the situation in its northern neighbor is starkly different.

A LONG HISTORY OF FOOD SCARCITY

North Korea has long struggled with food shortages, exacerbated by extreme weather conditions. The country’s agricultural sector is heavily dependent on seasonal conditions as Pyongyang faces difficulties securing sufficient fertilizer to improve crop yields, thus any deviation in weather can lead to significant crop failures. As a result, the recent cold spells would only worsen the already dire food situation, leading to a rise in food prices and making basic staples like corn and rice even harder to obtain. Since the scarcity of food has historically led to devastating famines, such as the famine in the 1990s which resulted in the death of an estimated two to three million people, the current crisis is likely no exception. 

In previous years, winter seasons have led to mass disappearances of people. Not only do large numbers of homeless beggars, or kotjebi, starve to death, even the employed would desert their homes and workplaces to hunt and fish in remote areas because they could not afford to buy food, with many of them reportedly gone missing. Radio Free Asia reported that after a worker, identified only by his surname Kim, who was suffering from malnutrition, left his home in search of food, the country’s social security department labelled him, along with five other missing people, as wanted persons. Although many of these people were merely searching for food in “remote areas to avoid starving to death,” the authorities marked them as criminals trying to defect to China.

KEEPING WARM AND RISKING LIVES

Heating facilities are inadequate in North Korea during the winter months, even in the capital city of Pyongyang. In their desperate bid to stay warm, many North Koreans have resorted to makeshift heating solutions. Burning coal indoors became a common practice despite the obvious dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning – a silent killer that claims many lives each winter. It is common knowledge that carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that can cause sudden dizziness and death, but for families seeking warmth in their enclosed homes, it is a risk that many North Koreans who cannot afford modern heating systems are forced to take.

Despite sitting atop vast coal reserves, North Korea faces a bizarre energy paradox. Even in coal-rich provinces like South Pyongan, Hamgyeong, Jagang, and Ryanggang, residents shiver through winters fueled by low-grade brown and anthracite coal. Meanwhile, for those outside these mining hubs, coal is a luxury mainly because North Korea prioritizes coal exports, leaving its own people to pay exorbitant prices—prices that often double due to the country's unreliable, electricity-starved rail system. 

For North Koreans outside the coal-mining areas, staying warm means relying on whatever they can find. Many turn to gathering firewood from nearby forests and mountains. One defector told NKNews that wood is the primary fuel for over 70% of the population, with coal being a distant second. This reliance on firewood is even acknowledged in North Korea's own laws, which state that local authorities must ensure farmers have enough wood to burn. But the reality is that such a promise is not enforced by the government. Thus, it became common to see children from rural villages dragging tree trunks or carrying firewood on their backs in the mountains. However, as more people began to illegally cut trees to resolve the fuel problem on their own, the country suffered from severe deforestation even after their leader, Kim Jong-un, came to power and pushed for reforestation. 

Unfortunately, the North Korean government’s response to the crisis has been lackluster at best. In yet another unrealistic move, the authorities encouraged the use of alternative fuels such as solar-powered heating. Nevertheless, while a few high-ranking officials and wealthy families have managed to acquire Chinese or smuggled South Korean solar panels, most common people simply cannot afford them. As a result, the most vulnerable North Koreans do not receive any support despite the record cold, leaving many to feel abandoned and hopeless.

The Real Reason Behind South Korea’s Martial Law Declaration

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol [DEMA(Defense Media Agency)]

On December 3, 2024, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol declared martial law in a late-night TV broadcast, citing “anti-state activities” and “threats posed by North Korea” as the primary reasons. This move, unprecedented in nearly 50 years, was aimed at crushing political opposition and restoring order. However, Yoon’s shocking decision was met with immediate backlash from both the public, where thousands of people gathered in protest, and the parliament, leading to its swift revocation just hours later.

WHY DID YOON MAKE THIS ORDER?

By way of background, martial law is temporary rule by military authorities when ordinary law is suspended and civilian decision-makers are deemed unable to function. According to Article 77 of South Korea’s constitution, the president may proclaim martial law when “required to cope with a military necessity or to maintain the public safety and order by mobilisation of the military forces in time of war, armed conflict or similar national emergency.”

Many speculate that the underlying reason for this drastic measure appears to be political desperation. Yoon, facing mounting pressure from the opposition Democratic Party and struggling to maintain his grip on power, saw martial law as a way to eliminate political adversaries and consolidate control. This can be seen by the timely decision after the opposition party pushed through a reduced budget bill in the parliamentary budget committee and filed impeachment motions against a state auditor and the chief prosecutor. For context, Yoon’s administration has been under immense threat from the opposition party, which controls the National Assembly, following the controversial handling of the April 2024 elections, where Yoon’s People Power Party (“PPP”) suffered a significant defeat. 

The pressure was not just external. Within his own party, Yoon faced growing dissent. The ruling PPP, initially supportive, began to fracture as some members shifted their allegiance to the opposition. Thus, this internal strife further weakened Yoon’s position, making it increasingly difficult for him to govern effectively.

AFTERMATH OF THE ORDER

Beyond Yoon’s claims of “criminal groups” hijacking state affairs that were met with great skepticism, the public reaction to the sudden martial law declaration was swift and fierce. Protests erupted across the country demanding Yoon’s resignation and arrest. Meanwhile, the opposition parties called for Yoon’s impeachment, which passed on December 14. The impeachment motion accused Yoon of overstepping his constitutional authority and threatening the democratic order. With a growing number of ruling party lawmakers now supporting the motion, Yoon’s grip on power appeared increasingly tenuous.

Moreover, the attempted suicide of former Defense Minister, Kim Yong-hyun, a key figure in the martial law decision, added to the turmoil. According to the army’s Special Warfare Commander, Kim ordered the deployment of troops to “seize control” of six locations, including the parliament, the main opposition party’s headquarters, three offices of the National Election Commission and a polling firm run by a left-wing YouTuber. Kim became the first official to be arrested over Yoon’s martial law declaration, and his attempted suicide using a shirt and underwear at a detention center in Seoul underscored the chaotic and unilateral nature of Yoon’s decision-making process.

IMPACT ON THE TWO KOREAS’ RELATIONSHIP

Though short-lived, the martial law declaration has significant implications for South Korea’s relationship with its northern neighbor. The escalation of military presence and the martial law decree could be perceived by Pyongyang as a threatening move, potentially leading to heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula. North Korea, which has a history of responding to perceived threats with aggressive rhetoric and actions, might even interpret South Korea’s martial law as a preparation for conflict, resulting in increased military activities along the border. This would be particularly alarming for South Korea, as the current political vacuum could mean that its government and military may be ill-prepared for any escalation in tensions with the North Korean regime.

Additionally, Pyongyang would likely interpret Seoul’s current chaos as a sign of internal conflict and seize this timing to assert its influence. North Korea’s state newspaper, the Rodong Sinmun, mocked Yoon for allowing such “insane act” that is “akin to the coup d'etat of the decades-ago military dictatorship era” and described “The puppet Yoon Suk Yeol’s shocking decision to level his fascist guns and bayonets at his own people has turned the puppet South into pandemonium.” It also added that the opposition’s failed attempt to impeach Yoon after PPP boycotted the vote had turned South Korea into a “protest scene” while emphasizing how the developments in Seoul have “revealed the weakness in South Korean society.” As a result, the highlighted political instability in South Korea could weaken its position in diplomatic negotiations with North Korea and lead to a rise in propaganda efforts aimed at both domestic and international audiences to undermine the South’s stability.

IMPACT ON NORTH KOREAN DEFECTORS

Yoon’s impeachment might have tremendous effects on the daily lives of North Koreans living in South Korea. If the opposition party is elected and a warmer relationship with North Korea is pursued, this could mean that benefits for North Koreans could be cut, human rights violations overlooked, and an overall crackdown of defector activities. All were complaints the community had against the previous administration of president Moon Jae-In. President Moon had a warm relationship with North Korea and Kim Jong Un but this came at a cost. One of North Korea’s greatest points of contention is South Korea’s treatment of refugees from the North, which has worked to make the lives of North Koreans living in South Korea as uncomfortable as possible. The country has an active campaign of harassment towards defectors living in South Korea. The great irony of pursuing peace with North Korea is that often, the horrors experienced by defectors are often ignored.

Michelle, a Third Time

Michelle's life has been defined by hardship and resilience. Raised in North Korea by a single father after her mother's death, she began working in a coal mine after fifth grade, recalling it as a happy time in her life. Her marriage, however, was abusive. After leaving her husband and briefly finding happiness with another man, she was imprisoned for living together unmarried.

Escaping to China in 2003, she endured 16 years of abuse from an alcoholic husband while living as an illegal immigrant. In 2019, she escaped again via the Underground Railroad, one of the last to do so before the 2020 pandemic shut it down, resettling in South Korea.

In 2021, she was diagnosed with stomach cancer. Recovering and facing the challenges of adapting to a new country during the pandemic, she found support through Elim House. Our missionaries initially encountered Michelle in China in 2017. Michelle came under our care again through Elim House in South Korea and has been a regular at our semi-annual retreats and special events.

Recently, Michelle contacted our social worker Cindy in a deeply depressed state. Since her cancer surgery, which removed her stomach, Michelle has struggled with digestion and other health issues. The recent development of a stomach ulcer during her recovery has further diminished her hope. She said she was in deep despair and that she intended to take her own life. She said she felt too weak to come to Elim House on her own so Cindy arranged to bring Michelle to our shelter this past Monday. Her daughter, who moved from China to South Korea to live with Michelle, will go back to China while her mom finds rest and restoration at Elim House.

The name of our shelter, “Elim,” comes from the book of Exodus, where, after the Israelites escaped slavery in Egypt, they came to a place called Elim. By all accounts it was beautiful and full of the water they desperately needed in the parched desert.

“Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they encamped there by the water,” Exodus 15:27 (ESV).

This has been exactly how Michelle has used our services, as a place to rest and recover from the brutal enslavement she experienced in North Korea and China. We thank God for the relationship that’s been forged over many years in China and in South Korea, by which she feels comfortable to call us when she is at her lowest. Please pray for Michelle's physical and emotional recovery, and for her to find renewed faith.

Top Headlines from North Korea - December 2024

NORTH KOREA’S FLOOD RECOVERY EFFORTS FAVOR SPEED OVER SAFETY

• North Korea is rapidly building new housing in flood-damaged areas, such as Sinuiju’s Hadan and Kangun villages and Wiha island, despite severe supply shortages leading to substandard construction.

• Local residents have raised concerns about the poor construction quality, including minimal structural support using plywood alone, poor waterproofing and potential roof collapses.

• Meanwhile, the authorities are pushing construction teams that are made up of soldiers, as well as unskilled students, youths and women to meet deadlines set by their leader, Kim Jong-un, and even mandating completion “at the highest standard” before key party meetings.

• A source told DailyNK that, “These homes were built for show, not for living. ...People will live in constant anxiety, knowing collapse is possible despite the attractive exterior.”

Source:
https://www.dailynk.com/english/north-korea-rushes-flood-recovery-housing-despite-safety-concerns/
https://news.qq.com/rain/a/20241118A07UWM00 

FIRST REPORTED DEATHS OF NORTH KOREAN SOLDIERS IN UKRAINE

• Approximately 30 North Korean troops were killed or wounded in recent battles against Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk region. At least three North Korean servicemen went missing in the area.

• According to a Ukranian drone unit commander deployed to Kursk, the North Korean soldiers appeared inexperienced. He commented that, “The North Koreans are running across the fields, and there are so many of them. They don’t understand what’s happening.”

• An estimated 11,000 North Korean soldiers have moved from support roles to direct combat on behalf of Russia.

• The U.S. and Ukraine have confirmed these deaths and promised a strong sanctions response against North Korea.

Source:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/16/first-reported-deaths-of-north-korean-soldiers-fighting-against-ukraine
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/12/16/north-korea-casualties-ukraine-russia/ 

NORTH KOREA’S REMOTE IT WORKERS MADE MILLIONS FOR KIM’S REGIME

• The U.S. Department of Justice indicted 14 North Korean nationals for using false identities to secure remote IT jobs with U.S. companies, funneling over $88 million USD to Pyongyang.

• The suspects also stole sensitive company information and threatened to leak it unless extortion payments were made. 

• These IT workers, employed by the North Korean-controlled companies, Yanbian Silverstar and Volasys Silverstar, are now facing wire fraud, money laundering, identity theft and other charges.

• The U.S. State Department has announced a $5 million USD reward for information leading to the suspects, highlighting the broader effort to disrupt North Korea’s illicit cyber activities.

Source:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpdnz3elwzvo
https://thehackernews.com/2024/12/doj-indicts-14-north-koreans-for-88m-it.html 

BIDEN APPROVES NATIONAL SECURITY MEMO TO HELP TRUMP ON CHINA, NORTH KOREA AND RUSSIA ISSUES

• President Joe Biden approved a new national security memorandum aimed at countering the growing cooperation among China, Iran, North Korea and Russia. This document is intended to serve as a roadmap for the incoming Trump administration to address these challenges.

• The memorandum highlights North Korea’s involvement in providing artillery, missiles and thousands of troops to Russia. In return, North Korea has received fuel and funding from Russia to bolster its manufacturing and military capabilities.

• The document underscores the deepening military and technical cooperation between North Korea and Russia. This cooperation is part of a broader alignment among the four countries, which the Biden administration refers to as the “quartet of chaos.”

• Recommendations were made for improving U.S. government interagency cooperation, speeding up information sharing with allies, calibrating the use of sanctions and economic tools for maximum effectiveness and bolstering preparation to manage simultaneous crises involving these adversaries.

Source:
https://apnews.com/article/trump-biden-national-security-memorandum-6d3462b37533a2665d1e844ee6f7f662
https://www.voanews.com/a/biden-approves-national-security-memo-on-china-iran-north-korea-and-russia-ahead-of-trump-s-return/7897334.html

North Korea’s Christmas Crackdown

As Christmas draws near, North Korea's authoritarian regime is tightening its grip on its people. A new QR code payment system and a major crackdown on Chinese phones along the border are the latest tactics to enhance surveillance and control. These measures are aimed to stifle any potential dissent and reinforce the regime's dominance, even during a time of year traditionally associated with family and festivity across the border. This seems to be in line with broader trends in North Korea, as they attempt to eliminate outside influence in the country after a period of limited freedoms. 

FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS CRACKDOWN

Pyongyang has recently implemented a QR code payment system as part of its “Local Development 22-20" policy, which is an initiative aimed at modernizing the economy by requiring merchants in major cities to adopt electronic payments. This new system is expected to coexist with the tightly controlled national planned economy, where the communist regime centrally plans and determines the types of goods to be produced, the amount of production and the price at which the goods are offered for sale, thereby allowing the government to maintain control while allowing market activities – once banned by the regime – to continue.

While the QR code payment system may seem like a modern convenience, it also serves as a powerful tool for government surveillance. By tracking every transaction, the regime can monitor the financial activities of its citizens, from the smallest purchase to the largest investment. This intrusive measure highlights the government's increasing control over the private lives of its people.

However, the low-level usage of smartphones in the Hermit Kingdom means a greater delay in fully implementing the new digital payment system and a stronger social impact over North Koreans’ ability to stay connected with family and friends, both domestically and internationally. For context, a study conducted by the Korea Institute for National Unification indicates that only a little over 23 percent of some 25.7 million North Koreans own smartphones as of February this year. North Korean citizens also prefer using foreign currency because it is perceived as more stable, though the country has made efforts to confiscate foreign currency. 

EXTERNAL COMMUNICATION CRACKDOWN

North Korea has launched a major crackdown on the use of Chinese phones along its border with China, particularly in North Hamgyong province. This campaign aims to curb the flow of information from the outside world and restrict communication across the Chinese border. Considering the many North Koreans who rely on Chinese phones for business purposes and to stay connected with family members who have defected and live abroad, this crackdown has significant implications for the population. Meanwhile, with the introduction of 4G communications in North Korea, where users are now able to make video calls and exchange photos via local smartphone apps, authorities can more easily track and surveil communication, potentially limiting the spread of information that are not in line with state propaganda.

Earlier this year, the authorities similarly cracked down on smuggled Chinese-made smartwatches that can connect to Chinese mobile networks using USIM cards. As these devices are able to make calls, send messages and access WeChat, the regime feared that they could encourage unauthorized communication with the outside world, thus imposed severe consequences, including interrogation and potential detention of individuals caught with these smartwatches. Even those who only used the smartwatches for Bluetooth connectivity without inserting a USIM card could still be punished. Unfortunately, many North Koreans bought these smartwatches without knowing their full capabilities, as the instruction manuals were often in Chinese, which led to increased scrutiny for those possessing these devices due to a lack of understanding.

CELEBRATING AN ISOLATED CHRISTMAS

The combined effects of the escalated surveillance via the QR code payment system and harsh penalties for using Chinese phones create an atmosphere of fear and anxiety among citizens. This has a profound impact on North Koreans, especially during Christmas, the time of year that is traditionally associated with exchanging gifts and connecting with loved ones, as it has become difficult for people to maintain these connections. For the Christian minority in North Korea, celebrating Christmas is already fraught with challenges due to the regime’s strict control over religious activities. The intensified monitoring during the festive season further complicates the ability of underground churches to gather and worship, thus exacerbating the isolation experienced by the Christian communities in North Korea.

North Koreans Dancing Away Their Trauma

In September, a group of seven nervous refugees and instructors took the stage at a fall festival in Incheon to do a line dancing performance in front of an audience. ​​Up until the time of the performance, most of the women second guessed their decision to perform that day, but the consensus was they were glad they pushed through the doubts and fears. Their performance was a big hit and the women who participated felt a new bond with each other.

“We climbed a mountain together,” said one woman after the performance. 

Crossing Borders’ free Line Dancing classes in South Korea have become a fun and strategic way for us to share the Good News of Jesus to North Koreans who desperately need it. 

North Koreans arrive in South Korea with a significant amount of trauma that they have accrued from the time they are born and through their dangerous journey to freedom. But very few North Koreans understand that they have trauma and what they can do to address it. Furthermore, there is a social stigma about receiving any emotional or psychological care in North Korea that refugees carry with them to South Korea.

Through Elim Community, we offer a variety of classes aimed at addressing the trauma in North Korean’s lives. One of the classes that has taken off this year is Line Dancing, which is a k-pop version of country line dancing that is popular in the US. Studies suggest that moving one’s body rhythmically and in unison can aid in trauma care. It has also been great fun for refugees involved. It is our hope that they will come for enjoyment while experiencing the therapeutic effects of the class to help cope with the acute trauma that most struggle with. Furthermore, we hope that, as they attend our community classes, that they will hear with open ears that their help and healing is found in Jesus Christ.

The refugee women were proud of their performance in September but all participants agreed that there was room for improvement. They agreed to compete in a community talent show two short months later. They revamped their music to be more lively and modern. They upgraded their outfits, adding skirts to their sequin vests. A few more women joined the team. Their performance was a hit. They did not receive the coveted top prize, but many on the team felt like they deserved it.

After these performances, our line dancing classes have become even more popular and engaging. Our social worker Cindy said that the atmosphere at class after the performances has become more joyful and the women feel a great bond with each other. The North Koreans who participated in the performance, though they had to be convinced to join, now are the most enthusiastic about Line Dancing. 

Most importantly, these classes have become an avenue to share the Good News with the participants. One woman, curious about a Christian devotional one of our staff members brought to the class, asked about Christianity and asked if she could also have a copy of this book. Elim Community is just one channel through which we share the love of Christ to North Koreans, both in our serving the community and in directly telling them about the person of Jesus. This is our prayer as the community grows and bonds:

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.- Romans 15:13

Refugee Stories from China

One of our staff in China spent a few days visiting with North Korean refugees earlier this year.  Given the security concerns in China, we are privileged to be able to continue our work and share the following stories with you.

Ellie

While living in North Korea, Ellie was forced to give up her daughter for adoption after her husband's death. She left North Korea in 1999 and was sold to a man in China. They had a daughter together but she lost track of her daughter when she was captured and sent back to North Korea. After a year in prison and “reeducation,” Ellie escaped to China again, and she was sold to the man she currently lives with now.

When their first son was just four years old, she was caught and spent another year in North Korea for “rehabilitation.” She returned to her husband and they had their second son together. Her oldest son is currently attending college while her youngest is a middle school student.

When asked about her prayer request, Ellie shared that in March of 2023, she was involved in a car accident while returning home after drinking with friends on Women’s Day, a major holiday in China. She still has difficulty using her left arm and leg and is only able to walk a few steps around her house. The consequences of the accident have made Ellie desperate for physical recovery. She quoted a popular Chinese expression which translates to “thankful thinking,” that says a lot of enlightenment comes from accidents. Ellie has decided to quit drinking as a result.

Hope

Hope worked as a nurse in North Korea. When she was 28, her husband died in a car accident, and at the age of 35, she had a stroke. Her health continued to decline and after some bloodwork, she was told that she had bone cancer. Hope was able to defect from North Korea in 2020 with her two daughters and a four-month old granddaughter. But even in China, she was not able to receive any treatment until recently. Hope is not able to walk as a result.

She shared that she began to see ghosts earlier this year. Various ghosts of animals and dead people would appear from time to time. Hope said their eyes were rolled back, bodies injured, they spoke nonsense and came to harass her. She attended a gathering of refugees with our pastor where he was able to pray over her and against these spirits. Hope said this phenomenon of seeing ghosts stopped immediately and she gave her life to the Lord.

Hope’s prayer request is that she might die without pain.

We all need the hope of Jesus. This giving season, would you consider making a one time donation or commit to a monthly giving plan so that we can continue the work of helping and sharing the good news of the gospel with North Korean refugees like Ellie and Hope?

Brenda’s Story: A Place To Call Home

Home: a familiar or usual setting (Merriam Webster dictionary)

After a 10 month stay in our women’s shelter Elim House, Brenda received the good news that she finally had a place that she could call home. Because of your generous support, Crossing Borders was able to house Brenda this year and help her apply for government sponsored housing. We had the privilege of listening to her heartbreaking stories about her journey to freedom from North Korea, weeping with her as she continued to mourn the loss of her two missing sons, and walking alongside her through her ongoing battles with the daily effects of her trauma. 

A few weeks after moving into her new home, Brenda invited our Elim House staff and current residents over for a housewarming party, where she warmly prepared a small table with treats for her guests who she called her only family. She told us about her hope that she would be reunited with her sons soon and live with them in her new home.

During Brenda’s stay at Elim House, we had many opportunities to pray and open the Bible together, knowing that the power of the gospel would be her ultimate source of lasting peace.

Read about when Brenda first arrived at Elim House.

Brenda shared more about her own upbringing in North Korea

Before she left Elim House, Brenda brought us in closer to the trauma of losing both of her sons

It is our great privilege and joy to journey together alongside the North Korean women who temporarily take up residence at Elim House and to love and support them as God allows.

As we enter this holiday and giving season, would you consider supporting us so that we can continue to help and share the good news of the gospel with North Korean refugees like Brenda?

Top Headlines from North Korea - November 2024

NORTH KOREA BANS USE OF WORD ‘REUNIFICATION’

• Pyongyang began to crack down on public use of the word “tongil” and banned hundreds of patriotic songs that referred to reunification as the ultimate goal of the Korean people.

• This change aligns with North Korea’s efforts to promote its ideology and distance itself from the idea of reunification with South Korea, following its leader Kim Jong-un's declaration of the “two-state theory” last year.

• One direct consequence is shown in North Korea’s plans to rename the “unification pattern” (or “tongil tul” in Korean) in taekwon-do to “Chang Hon pattern” after the pen name of Choi Hong-hi, founder of the martial art.

• The International Taekwondo Federation is set to put this issue to a vote at the next congress in October 2025.

Source:
https://www.rfa.org/english/korea/2024/11/18/north-korea-taekwondo-unification-pattern/
https://www.ytn.co.kr/en/news/news_view.php?key=202411140931181836

OFFICIALS EMBEZZLE FROM FLOOD RECOVERY SUPPLIES

• North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited flood-hit areas in North Pyongan province for the fourth time, urging the completion of reconstruction works before the December party plenary meeting.

• Kim inspected the construction of new homes and infrastructure and expressed satisfaction with the rebuilding progress.

• However, it is reported that officials at multiple levels overseeing flood recovery efforts have been profiting from aid supplies, including food, clothing and construction materials, thus hindering the recovery progress.

• Although construction workers have confronted officials over the embezzlements which led to increased surveillance by the Ministry of State Security, investigations into the corruption were delayed to avoid disrupting reconstruction works in light of the December deadline.

Source:
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/north-korea-s-kim-pays-4th-visit-to-flood-hit-province/3384455
https://www.dailynk.com/english/aid-theft-undermines-n-korean-flood-recovery-efforts/

Kim Jong Un (left) with unmanned attack drones in North Korea, on November 14, 2024 [KCNA]

NORTH KOREA ORDERED MASS PRODUCTION OF SUICIDE DRONES

• According to North Korean state media, Korean Central News Agency (“KCNA”), its leader Kim Jong-un oversaw a test of suicide drones and ordered a mass production of the aerial weapon.

• KCNA reported that Kim “underscored the need to build a serial production system as early as possible.” 

• The drones are designed to hit both land and sea targets, thereby acting as guided missiles. 

• This rapid development of loitering munitions, which are widely used in the Russia-Ukraine war as well as in the Middle East, raises questions as to whether North Korea has been receiving technical support from Russia amidst their growing military cooperations.

Source:
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/11/15/north-koreas-kim-orders-mass-production-of-attack-drones-state-mediahttps://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/north-korea-leader-kim-orders-mass-production-suicide-drones-yonhap-says-2024-11-14/ 

MORE NORTH KOREAN SOLDIERS DEPLOYED TO RUSSIA

• Pyongyang may have deployed as many as 100,000 troops to support Russia in its conflict with Ukraine.

• In return for its support, North Korea is expected to receive economic and military aid from Russia. South Korean intelligence estimates that Russia is paying about $2,000 USD per month to each soldier.

• However, a defense researcher and North Korea specialist, Bruce W. Bennett, suggests that “money coming from Russia is going directly to the party and then on to the Kim family. ...Perhaps only a small amount or even nothing” will be pocketed by the soldiers themselves.

• Meanwhile, many speculate that North Korean soldiers fighting in Ukraine will become “cannon fodder” on the battlefield as former soldiers suggest that “they’re totally not ready.”

Source:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm2796pdm1lohttps://www.yahoo.com/news/russia-dropping-millions-pay-100-150037233.html

The Significance of Soccer for North Korea

In recent months, North Korea’s national soccer (football) team has been making waves in the international soccer community after the team’s outstanding performances in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers captured the attention of many. This newfound hype is not just about the sport, but a reflection of the deep-rooted significance of soccer in North Korean society.

SOCCER’S SOCIAL AND CULTURAL IMPORTANCE IN NORTH KOREA

Football (soccer) is more than just a game in North Korea, but serves as a vital part of the nation’s social and cultural constitution. As a discipline governed by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Football Association, soccer acts as a tool for national pride and propaganda, as well as a unifying force that brings together North Koreans from all walks of life amidst experiencing immense suffering and suppression by the government. Soccer is promoted at all levels of society, from schools to workplaces, and is seen as a way to build character and discipline. Young children are encouraged to play soccer from an early age, and the sport is often used as a tool for physical education and social development.

The national team, known as the Chollima (a mythical winged horse symbolizing speed and power – qualities that the North Korean people hold dear), is a source of immense national pride. The team’s home games and matches are often held in large stadiums, like Pyongyang’s Kim Il Sung Stadium, which is a testament to the sport’s importance. Further, traditional songs and chants are often performed at matches, adding a uniquely North Korean flavor to the games.

SOCCER AS A DIPLOMATIC TOOL

North Korea has long used sports, particularly soccer, as a means of diplomacy. International matches provide a rare opportunity for the hermit kingdom to engage with the global community. In particular, historic matches between North and South Korea have been seen as gestures of peace and reconciliation, even if just temporarily.

Using sports to achieve diplomatic goals is not novel to the country, as Mao Zedong’s China had similarly fostered their relationship through a “friendship first, competition second” approach. It was reported that, despite China’s superior athletic skills, Chinese athletes would purposely lose to North Korean athletes to display both their dominance and goodwill. Though this practice of losing on purpose is no longer as common, China demonstrated its continued support by training North Korean athletes and even sending “volunteer” actors to the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa to cheer for North Korea in the absence of its own fans.

CHALLENGES FACED BY NORTH KOREA ATHLETES

Despite its importance, soccer in North Korea is not without its challenges. The government tightly controls soccer, and athletes face strict surveillance and constant pressure to perform, as failures can carry severe consequences. Athletes in North Korea face long periods of isolation, and according to SoccerWay, there are currently only 15 North Korean soccer players abroad playing in five countries, with 27 soccer players having ever played outside of the country in limited geographical areas including Austria, Cambodia, China, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Mongolia, Qatar, Russia, Serbia, Switzerland, South Korea and Thailand.

Meanwhile, training conditions for athletes in North Korea are particularly harsh, as the lack of resources and international exposure directly hinders their practice and development. To make up for the disadvantage, North Korean soccer players have been accused of taking banned steroids to enhance their performance in past FIFA games, which resulted in the team being subjected to unannounced testing by FIFA, as well as a ban from the 2015 Women's World Cup.

ON THE GLOBAL STAGE

North Korea qualified and participated in just two FIFA World Cup events: in the 1966 and 2010. While the team advanced to the quarter finals in the 1966 event, North Korea lost all three group matches and did not advance past the group stage in 2010.

The women’s national team have appeared in every FIFA Women's World Cup from 1999 to 2011. As of the June 2024 FIFA rankings, the team is ranked 10th in the world.

As many North Korean athletes received warmth and acknowledgement from competitors at the most recent Paris 2024 Olympics, we hope to see the game of soccer bring North Korea to the global stage where they might experience more of the same. Through these exchanges, there’s hope for dispelling the indoctrination that they’ve lived and trained under their whole lives.

Top Headlines from North Korea - October 2024

An explosion at an unconfirmed location in North Korea (KCNA)

INTER-KOREAN ROAD EXPLOSION ESCALATES TENSIONS

• North Korea called South Korea a “hostile state” and blasted sections of unused road and rail routes that once linked it with the South after Pyongyang claimed that Seoul flew drones carrying propaganda leaflets over its capital city.

• By destroying 66-yard (60-meter) long stretches of road and rail links along the inter-Korean border, the North’s side is now completely blocked “as part of the phased complete separation” from South Korea.

• North Korean state media cited a Ministry of Defense spokesman vowing to take further measures to “permanently fortify” the border, though no further detail has been provided yet.

• South Korea’s military fired warning shots within southern sections of the border in response.

Source:
https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-roads-destroys-drones-south-0672f5baf033cf0c4ecb2f1e1b958a41
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/10/17/north-korea-blows-up-road-rail-links-with-hostile-state-south-korea

NORTH KOREA PUNISHES FLOOD SURVIVORS FOR NEGLECTING LEADERS’ PORTRAITS

• North Korean authorities have been investigating flood victims and punishing those who failed to rescue portraits of the country’s leaders when they escaped their destroyed homes.

• Citizens who lost their party membership cards in the disaster are also being penalized as membership in the party is seen as a great honor and confers special privileges in securing housing, schools and jobs.

• The prioritization of the leaders’ portraits over personal safety has long been emphasized, as damaging the same can result in severe punishment.

• A resident from the northern province of Chagang told Radio Free Asia that a flood damage investigation group has been inquiring into what flood survivors have in their possession, and those who did not know the purpose of the survey “couldn’t have imagined that their honest account of the situation could be used against them, causing great misfortune.”

Source:
https://www.rfa.org/english/news/korea/north-korea-kim-dynasty-portraits-cult-of-personality-10082024151249.html
https://www.dailynk.com/english/some-n-koreans-prioritize-kim-portraits-while-fleeing-homes-due-to-flooding/

NORTH KOREAN DEFECTOR STOLE BUS TO RETURN HOME

• A North Korean defector was recently arrested and detained by South Korean police after attempting to cross the heavily militarized border at Tongil Bridge back to the North on a stolen bus.

• The man in his 30’s tried to drive through a barricade despite soldiers guarding the bridge issuing warnings for him to stop.

• Paju police referred the case to provincial police authorities and revealed that the man defected more than a decade ago but was planning to return to North Korea after struggling to settle in the South.

• The defector was not found to have been under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the incident, but had told police that he had accumulated several unpaid fines which he likely could not pay off while working as a day laborer in Paju and other cities.

• South Korea’s law prohibits citizens, including defectors, from entering the North without government authorization and offenders may be jailed up to ten years if convicted.

Source:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqjre1zpz5ko
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/north-korean-defector-south-stole-bus-bid-return-home-media-reports-say-2024-10-01/

North Korean soldiers in training (KCNA)

NORTH KOREA SENDS TROOPS TO RUSSIA AHEAD OF DEPLOYMENT TO UKRAINE

• 12,000 to 15,000 North Korean troops have been sent to Russia to help fight the war in Ukraine as Moscow and Pyongyang deepen their military ties.

• According to South Korea’s National Intelligence Service, North Korea has shipped 1,500 special forces fighters on seven Russian ships to areas deep in Russia’s far east for training earlier this month and “are expected to be deployed to the front lines once their adaptation training is completed.”

• North Korean soldiers were issued forged identification documents of Siberian nationals due to their similar appearances to disguise themselves as Russian soldiers and hide their involvements on the battlefield. 

• This recent intervention marks the first time that the DPRK has participated in a major war in an international war.

• It is reported that 18 North Korean soldiers have deserted their positions in Russia’s Kursk and Bryansk oblasts near the Ukrainian border to date.

Source:
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/10/18/asia/ukraine-north-korea-12000-troops-intl/index.html
https://kyivindependent.com/18-north-korean-soldiers-already-deserted-positions-by-ukraines-border-intelligence-sources-tell-suspilne/

Brenda Update

Brenda (right) with Elsa at an Elim House outing.

Crossing Borders’ mission is to show the compassion of Christ to North Koreans and their children. Part of this is to quietly sit with them and listen to their stories. As North Korean refugees under our care have shared thousands of stories of trauma and suffering, we often walk away confused as to how to help them. Most of the time, there is little we can do but listen. We experience a similar dilemma when we try to pray for them. Sometimes, we don’t know where to begin or what to say as we often are shocked at the tragedies that each of these people experience. 

Elsa, one of our Elim House staff, experienced this recently with Brenda, a resident in our shelter since December 2023, when Brenda revealed more details about her two sons. Facing starvation in the late ‘90s, Brenda decided to leave her youngest son with her husband at home while she and her eldest son left home to find food. After traveling quite a distance, Brenda and her oldest found a way to make money by carrying coal by foot for three hours a day. On other days, they would beg for food from anyone they could find. Her son had to watch his mom get beaten many times as they begged. During the years that they lived like this, the winters were the hardest to endure  in the cold with no shelter. Sometimes they would find shelter in caves.

When Brenda finally saved some money, she returned to her home only to find that her youngest son had wandered out of the house looking for food. He never returned. Brenda said that North Korean parents would lock their young children in their homes as they left for days in search of food. If the parents died along the way, the children were later found dead in their homes. In Brenda’s case, her husband had locked their son in their home as he also went in search of food, but their son found a way to escape and then went missing.

Trying to make the best of her tragic circumstances, Brenda poured all of her meager resources into her eldest son, who got back on track with his studies and eventually enlisted in the North Korean army. Brenda thought they would treat him well there, but her son became malnourished due to lack of food and was often beaten. He left the army and disappeared. Brenda thinks he purposely did not tell her where he was because he no longer wanted to be a burden. The last time she heard from him was through a letter he sent. He informed her that he had joined the military, his ribs were broken, his internal organs were damaged and he was suffering from the buildup of fluid in his abdomen.

After hearing this, Elsa, our shelter manager, left work and went to her church’s weekly prayer meeting where all she could do was cry for an hour as she thought about the hardships Brenda shared. As she communed with God during this time, she felt incredibly blessed to be able to hear such stories and privileged to be in a position to pray for Brenda. 

How do you pray for someone who has endured such suffering and who continues to relive her trauma on a daily basis? In the gospel of John, when Lazarus has died and before Jesus goes to him, the Bible says that Jesus wept (John 11:35). This incredible detail demonstrates to us God’s very real presence in the midst of our sorrows and grief. Though Jesus knew he would bring dead Lazarus back to life, he demonstrated in this moment his profound humanity, connection and indisputable presence by weeping alongside Mary, Martha and the other mourners. 

So while we often find ourselves unable to even put together coherent sentences to pray for our refugees who have endured horrific trauma, we take comfort and find peace in knowing that Jesus knows every detail that has happened to them and that he sits with them in their grief. And when we cannot muster the words to pray, Romans 8:26 offers great reassurance that, “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words” (ESV).

Top Headlines from North Korea - September 2024

NORTH KOREAN WOMEN EXECUTED FOR HELPING DEFECTORS IN CHINA

• Two North Korean women were charged with human trafficking and sentenced to death. While nine other women were sentenced to life imprisonment on the same charges.

• The 11 women were among a group of around 500 North Koreans which China forcibly repatriated in October 2023. 

• 39-year-old Ri and 43-year-old Kang, who were executed after a public trial in the northeastern port city of Chongjin, previously helped other North Korean women in China escape to South Korea. This marks the first report of executions since China started repatriating defectors back to North Korea in October. 

• According to Jang Se-yul, Head of Gyeore’eol Unification Solidarity in Seoul, Ri and Kang were sold to a Chinese adult entertainment business when they first escaped.

Source:
https://www.rfa.org/korean/in_focus/human_rights_defector/china-forced-repatriation-north-korea-execution-09122024153503.html 
https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-executes-two-women-who-helped-people-escape-to-south-korea-report-759997 

NORTH KOREA CRACKS DOWN ON ABORTION TO RAISE BIRTH RATE

• North Korea is intensifying its crackdown on abortion and contraception to boost its declining birth rate. 

• Doctors performing abortions face severe punishments, including prison sentences of up to five years. Meanwhile, merchants who sell contraceptives are also being “punished in droves” as some had their stalls confiscated and had to pay 300,000 won (around $17.65 USD) in fine.

• Although abortion has been illegal in North Korea since the 1990s, some doctors secretly help women perform abortions in their homes and charge about 30,000 won (around $1.76 USD) per abortion to supplement their small government salary. For context, this charge is worth 4.5 kilograms of rice and is the average monthly salary of a North Korean worker.

• To discourage doctors from profiting in the private medical market, the government increased their monthly salaries more than 40-fold to between 80,000 and 180,000 won (around $5-$11 USD), but many doctors still opt to provide private treatments.

Source:
https://www.rfa.org/english/news/korea/north-korea-abortion-contraceptive-womens-health-doctors-prison-sentences-09092024160351.html
https://www.newsweek.com/north-korea-news-punish-doctors-abortion-birthrate-1952489 

Kim Jong Un at one of North Korea’s uranium enrichment facilities. (KCNA)

URANIUM ENRICHMENT FACILITY IN NORTH KOREA

• North Korea recently released photos of a uranium enrichment facility which produces material for its nuclear weapons.

• Photos show its leader, Kim Jong-un, touring the site as he called for more centrifuges to boost his country’s nuclear weapons arsenal.

• Hong Min, a senior analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification, suggested that the photos could serve as a "message" ahead of the upcoming U.S. presidential election, with the aim of warning the next administration that it would be "impossible to denuclearise North Korea."

• Meanwhile, the South Korean government strongly condemned the North's plans to increase its uranium production.

Source:
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/09/12/asia/north-korea-uranium-enrichment-intl-hnk/index.html
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly9ypzq8qeo 

NORTH KOREA’S TOP DIPLOMAT ATTENDS FORUM IN RUSSIA

• According to the Russian embassy in Pyongyang, the North Korean Foreign Minister, Choe Son-hui, is visiting Russia this week to attend the fourth Eurasian Women's Forum and the BRICS Women's Forum in Saint Petersburg.

• In addition to participating in cultural events and sightseeing, Choe is “scheduled to deliver speeches and participate in discussions,” and Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin, is also expected to attend one of the events to “address the participants.”

• Choe’s trip followed shortly after the top Russian security official, Sergei Shoigu, met with Kim Jong-un during his visit to North Korea to discuss a “wide range of bilateral and international issues.”

• Russia and North Korea’s tie remains strong as the DPRK’s foreign ministry recently declared that Pyongyang will continue to support Moscow in its war with Ukraine.

Source:
https://www.nknews.org/2024/09/north-koreas-top-diplomat-visiting-russia-to-attend-forum-where-putin-to-speak/
https://www.reuters.com/world/north-koreas-foreign-minister-leaves-russia-embassy-pyongyang-says-2024-09-16/

North Korea's Chuseok Overshadowed by Crisis

Chuseok, a time for family reunions and honoring ancestors, is particularly poignant in North Korea this year due to recent hardships. The country recently experienced severe floodings, a worsening food crisis and the execution of officials for their failure to prevent the disasters. These events have significantly impacted the traditional celebrations for its people to thank their ancestors for an “abundant harvest” during the two Koreas’ thanksgiving season.

FOOD AND WATER SHORTAGES

The devastating floods in North Korea have left thousands homeless and caused extensive damages to its infrastructures, further exacerbating an already dire food situation. With crops destroyed and food supplies dwindling, many families struggle to rebuild their lives and put food on their tables, let alone prepare the customary Chuseok feast for their loved ones. To support flood recovery efforts, North Korean authorities have reportedly ordered workers in China and Russia to donate a significant portion of their salaries. Laborers in various industries, such as clothing factories, seafood companies and electronic plants, are deeply affected, as some who receive monthly salaries of 2,500 to 3,000 yuan (around $350 to $420 USD) were required to pay 80 percent of their earnings to the Party back home. Meanwhile, trading companies in China rushed to show loyalty to Kim’s regime by competing to contribute the most (out of their workers’ salaries) to the flood recovery efforts, leaving the workers with minimal living expenses and greater hardships.

According to DailyNK, citizens were seen collecting rainwater with plastic buckets and washbasins in Sinuiju, North Pyongan province, an area that is currently undergoing post-disaster reconstruction efforts. It is reported that tap water supply has not been restored even after a month has passed since the flood. North Korean authorities have mobilized fire trucks to try and solve the water shortage problem, but clean water supply remains insufficient. A local resident jokingly told DailyNK that “When it rained a lot, people would say ‘More tap water came to my house today.’ The tap water referred to here is rainwater that falls from the sky.” Other residents also complained that since they were forced to participate in reconstruction work “under the hot sun every day” on top of their daily house and work duties, water scarcity poses a great threat to their well-being. With sources revealing that a 10-liter bucket of rainwater costs 2,000 won (around $2.2 USD), it is difficult to imagine how people would choose to use this precious resource to cook traditional Chuseok dishes like songpyeon (half-moon rice cakes) and jeon (Korean pancakes) this year.

BARRIERS TO CELEBRATION

Ahead of the festival, usual travels to ancestral graves for rituals like charye (ancestral rites) and beolcho (grave maintenance) are likely hindered by transportation issues due to extensive damages to infrastructures, particularly in the provinces of North Pyongan, Ryanggang and Jagang. Roads and bridges have been washed away, while landslides have blocked key transportation routes around the country. Satellite images also show the widespread damage of the country’s electricity supply as a result of the flood, with many areas experiencing power outages. Comparing satellite photos of Sinuiju, which lies across the Yalu River from the Chinese city of Dandong, taken on June 26 and August 23 this year, the area shown in the latter appears to be significantly darker. The famous Hwasong district in Pyongyang, known for the site of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's major housing construction project, also embraced darkness. Bruce Songhak Chung, a researcher at the Korean Institute for Security and Strategy, suggested that “the power situation in Pyongyang may have suddenly worsened recently, or perhaps that construction workers may have been mobilized for flood recovery in Sinuiju.”

Many families lost their homes and loved ones in the floods, with thousands of people unable to return to their hometowns. As the nation prepares for Chuseok, the combination of grief, loss and fear overshadows the celebrations. Accordingly, the government’s response to the flood disaster by imposing harsh measures to execute 20 to 30 officials with an aim to project an image of strict accountability only draws further international attention and criticism.

Forsaken, Struck Down, but Not Destroyed (2 Corinthians 4:8-10)

Brenda (left) talking about her life in Korea.

“I’m glad my physical features are like a potato,” Brenda told me with all seriousness. “Because I’m like this, I don’t encounter the drama that some of my pretty North Korean female colleagues face in the field of ministry in South Korea.”

I was sitting in a coffee shop with Brenda (one of our Elim House residents) in June 2024 listening to her life story. Throughout my trip, she would tell me about the unfortunate mishaps she dealt with as a church evangelist working with North Korea and South Korean congregants at her church. On this particular day, our discussion was full of intense emotions. One minute I was laughing so hard at the funny things that were coming out of her mouth. She had such a great sense of humor. The next minute I was sobbing as she shared with me one tragic incident in her life after another which had led her to the present day.

Brenda was abandoned by her parents in North Korea and for 10 years, she lived as a kotjebi. Literally, kotjebi means “fluttering swallows” and it is used in reference to this bird’s unending search for food and shelter. During this time of homelessness, Brenda resolutely concluded in her heart that she could trust no one but herself in this world as no one had ever taken care of her.

Brenda escaped from North Korea to China in 2008 at a time when the Chinese government was significantly cracking down on North Korean refugees and the brokers who trafficked them. “I was a prized commodity and sold for a very high price because there were so few of us entering China around that time,” Brenda explained matter-of-factly.

Without any contacts in China, Brenda literally walked into the country after crossing the Tumen river and went from village to village, shouting, “Somebody save me!”

Brenda was eventually sold as a bride and spent three years in China. Among the many horrific events of her life she recounted was when she was repeatedly kicked by a man with very sharp boots, an incident where she thought she would literally die. Another time, she was beaten so badly by another man that she lost her sense of hearing in her right ear, which was not fully restored until she came to South Korea many years later and received surgery.

When she left North Korea, she left behind an 18 year old son and a 7 year old son. Her youngest had wandered out of the house when Brenda was out searching for food for her family. He too had gone searching for food and was never seen again.

Brenda was introduced to the gospel years before she came to our shelter and when she gave her life to Christ, she learned what it meant to trust God and not depend only on herself. As she inwardly learned to accept Jesus’ love for her, God began to reveal to her the beauty of the world around her. She decided to pursue studies at a South Korean seminary, a seven-year journey that led her to become an evangelist.

She used to ask God why he had answered all of her prayers except the one where she asked to see her sons again. She once heard God ask her in return, would you pray as fervently for North Korea if I allowed you to see your sons? No, she realized. She would probably be consumed by making up for lost time with her sons, taking them to the mall to buy anything they wanted and to buffets to eat to their hearts’ content.

Brenda says God’s mission for her life is to help save her country through Jesus. “North Korea is dark and nothing prospers there because God is unknown. I have to do what I can to change that.”

The Unlikely Friendship and Potential Fallout of North and South Korean Boxers

In the high-stakes world of Olympic boxing, where every hook and jab can mean the difference between victory and defeat, an unexpected friendship was revealed between two athletes from nations often seen as adversaries. Im Ae-ji of South Korea and Pang Chol-mi of North Korea have not only made history by becoming the first women from their respective countries to win Olympic boxing medals in the Paris Games this year, but have also shown signs of camaraderie and mutual respect when they shared the podium for winning bronze medals in the women’s bantamweight category. Meanwhile, a photo with Im and Pang standing stand-by-side – a second selfie taken with athletes from both Koreas during the Olympics this year – flooded the internet, with photos of the two Koreas’ flags displayed next to each other in the medal ceremony also going viral as a demonstration of the Olympic spirit.

THE BIRTH OF AN UNUSUAL FRIENDSHIP

South Korea’s Im and North Korea’s Pang first met during the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, where they competed against each other and Pang ultimately secured a gold medal. Despite the fierce competition, the two boxers spoke after the bout in Hangzhou and Pang even told Im that she “did a good job,” according to an interview in Paris. Im and Pang found common ground in their shared experiences as athletes and reportedly became close friends after competing in the same boxing events for several years leading up to qualifying for the Paris Olympic Games.

One particularly touching moment occurred when Pang cheered Im on after a hard-fought bout. The South Korean athlete told reporters from Yonhap News that, “I met Pang Chul Mi at the weight room in the athletes’ village and she said ‘fighting.’” Nonetheless, their friendship is still seen to be fraught with challenges. During a news conference at the Olympics, Im and Pang pretended not to know each other, with Im appearing cautious with her words when speaking next to Pang.

THE POTENTIAL FALLOUT

A well-intentioned gesture by Im may have inadvertently caused trouble for Pang. While the English word “fighting” is a South Korean slang word meaning “do your best” and is portrayed as a gesture of encouragement, it is seen by the North Korean regime as a cultural infiltration and a potential threat to nationalistic principles. Upon Pang’s return to Pyongyang, she might face the possibility of severe repercussions instead of celebrations to congratulate her on bringing victory to her country. For instance, the authorities may interpret Pang’s use of the South Korean term as a sign of ideological deviation or as an attempt to undermine the regime’s cultural policies. 

North Korea has made many efforts to wipe most English words out of their lexicon while the South has gone in the opposite direction. This is why it is so difficult for North Koreans who arrive in South Korea. They are often confused by the prolific usage of English in South Korea, or Konglish. This is why Crossing Borders holds conversational English classes in two major cities: Incheon and Seoul. 

Observers in South Korea also expressed their worry upon hearing Im’s account, while a defector told Radio Free Asia that, “If it is true that Pang said ‘fighting,’ she could be pointed out as someone who watched a lot of South Korean dramas,” and may face punishment back home. Since the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, enacted new laws to limit foreign influence last year, including banning the South Korean language, journalists warned that South Korean slang and vocabulary are strictly banned in North Korea and violators could face severe penalties, including imprisonment or even execution.

The unintended trouble caused by Im’s gesture highlights the difficult positions athletes are in where they find themselves caught in the crossfire of political conflicts. As the world watches, Pang’s short answers and emotionless expressions at the press conference also serve as a reminder of the complexities faced by North Koreans athletes who straddle the line between competition and diplomacy.

North Korea’s Secret Preparations Amid Kim Jong-Un's Health Crisis

Kim Jong Un with his daughter, Kim Ju-ae. (Credit: KCNA)

In a significant development, North Korea appears to be laying the groundwork for a potentially imminent leadership transition. Recent reports indicate that North Korea’s current leader, Kim Jong-un, is facing severe health challenges related to obesity, prompting his regime to even seek medical assistance from abroad. Despite previous speculations suggesting that Kim Ju-ae is the likely heir to her father’s throne, the timing of these events and Kim’s willingness to risk exposing his secretive health conditions to seek foreign help hint the desperate need to push for succession earlier than expected.

KIM JONG-UN'S DECLINING HEALTH

The North Korean leader, who is speculated to be 40 years old, has long been known for his heavy drinking and smoking habits. These lifestyle choices, combined with a family history of heart disease, have exacerbated Kim’s own health issues. South Korean intelligence agencies have reported that Kim is suffering from high blood pressure and diabetes, conditions that are difficult to manage with the medical resources available in North Korea.

In recent months, Kim’s weight has reportedly skyrocketed to his heaviest ever at around 308 pounds (140 kilograms), placing him at high risk of heart disease, especially when he has been showing signs of high blood pressure and diabetes since his early 30’s. The agency added that, in addition to the leader’s risky habits, his health issues are likely a result of stress. If left untreated, the current leader’s conditions could shadow that of both his grandfather and father, who had died from cardiovascular diseases. This alarming situation has led North Korean officials to search for "alternative medical substances” overseas, highlighting the severity of his health problems that can neither be treated immediately nor internally.

PREPARING FOR SUCCESSION

Since Kim has not formally anointed a successor to his reclusive kingdom, his health remains a top concern to his people as the potential leadership transition carries significant implications on the direction of the regime’s ruling that could lead to shifts in the nation’s domestic and foreign policies. However, it is widely reported that Kim’s “beloved” daughter, Ju-ae, began to receive lessons to prepare her for succession amidst being increasingly visible in public appearances, especially during important nationwide military events. As a result, many believe that Ju-ae is set to take over the reins of North Korea in the near future. 

Ju-ae is estimated to be between 10 and 12 years old. Despite this tender age, North Korea has repeatedly put forward that she is a strong candidate and referred her to as a “great person of guidance” (or “hyangdo” in Korean that is a term typically reserved for a leader or successor) by the North’s state media in an attempt to ensure a smooth transition of power and maintain the stability of the regime in the event of Kim’s incapacitation. Analysts also suggest that Ju-ae's frequent presence at significant state functions was meant to either silence rivalries inside Pyongyang or present the Kim family in the style of a monarchy, as the current leader had himself inherited his position from his late father, Kim Jong-il, the son of North Korea’s founder, Kim Il-sung.

As North Korea navigates this critical juncture, the world continues to closely monitor Kim’s health and the potential rise of Ju-ae to power, which could mark a pivotal moment in the nation’s history that would significantly impact its relations with key players such as the U.S., South Korea and China in light of Kim’s ongoing nuclear ambitions.

Top Headlines from North Korea - August 2024

NORTH KOREA REOPEN TO TOURISTS STARTING DECEMBER

• After nearly five years of strict Covid-19 border controls, North Korea is resuming international tourism this year.

• Although private tours from Russia began in February, only a small group of tourists flew to North Korea.

• According to Beijing-based travel agency, Koryo Tours, “We have received confirmation from our local partner that tourism to Samjiyon and likely the rest of the country will officially resume in December 2024.” Similarly, Shenyang’s KTG Tours wrote on its Facebook page that they believe “Pyongyang and other places will open too!!!”

• North Korean state media revealed that Samjiyon, a city called a “socialist utopia” situated near the Chinese border, has been redeveloped in recent years, with plans to rebuild its airport, convert a military ski base into a resort and build new railways and hotels in order to “revitalize international tourism.”

• However, apart from South Koreans who are not allowed to enter as tourists, the U.S. also bans its citizens from traveling to North Korea.

Source:
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/north-korea-open-border-foreign-tourists-december-tour-operators-say-2024-08-14/
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg3wzkx8k8o 

SOUTH KOREA TO ESTABLISH NORTH KOREA FUND

• South Korean President, Yoon Suk-yeol, unveiled plans to provide North Koreans with more information about the outside world as part of the “Aug. 15 Unification Doctrine,” a revised inter-Korean unification vision.

• The doctrine focuses on challenging North Korea’s regime and influencing its people to accept the idea of unification based on the principles of freedom, which Yoon’s government hopes to achieve by continuing its propaganda campaign using various tools, including improving North Koreans’ right of access to information.

• Yoon also pledged to establish a North Korea freedom and human rights fund to actively support nongovernmental activities that promote freedom and human rights in the country while continuing to try to provide humanitarian aid to the North.

• The idea of an “Inter-Korean Working Group” was also proposed by Yoon to create a working-level dialogue channel to address matters affecting the two Koreas.

Source:
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/08/113_380656.html
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20240815002251315 

NO SAMSUNG SMARTPHONES FOR NORTH KOREAN OLYMPIANS 

• The International Olympic Committee confirmed that North Korean athletes did not receive the special edition of Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 6 smartphones that were gifts to all athletes participating in the Paris Olympics.

• South Korea’s Foreign Ministry declared that “smartphones are classified as prohibited under UN Security Council Resolution 2397,” thus North Korean athletes receiving the smartphones in Paris does not violate UN sanctions per se, but bringing them back to North Korea would.

• A former Associated Press journalist, Jean H. Lee, explained that the UN bans an extensive list of items from entering North Korea as they could be used “for a nefarious purpose,” for example, baby food can be repurposed for biochemical weapons.

• During the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics, North Korean athletes had refused to accept smartphones offered by the organizing committee altogether.

Source:
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2024-08-09/national/diplomacy/IOC-denies-allegations-that-North-Korean-athletes-received-Samsung-smartphones/2109673
https://www.cbc.ca/news/north-korea-samsung-1.7289372 

Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin (Photo: www.kremlin.ru)

PYONGYANG REAFFIRMS DEEP TIES WITH MOSCOW

• North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, reaffirmed a pledge to deepen cooperation with Russia in a message to President Vladimir Putin, as the country celebrated the anniversary of Korea’s independence from Japan’s colonial rule.

• Kim stressed the “invincible comradeship” of their countries and told Putin that Russia’s victory was assured in this “sacred war,” without referring to Ukraine by name, while the Russian leader said the bond forged as Soviet soldiers fought against Japan continues to serve as the basis of their ties.

• This exchange came after Putin’s last visit to Pyongyang when the two leaders announced a partnership treaty that offers each other military assistance “without delay” if either were attacked.

• North Korea has allegedly been supplying Russia with rockets and missiles in return for economic and other military assistance.

Source:
https://www.rfa.org/english/news/korea/kim-putin-russia-ties-08162024011518.html
https://au.news.yahoo.com/kim-putin-vow-deeper-north-222449984.html

Hidden Catastrophe: North Korea’s Attempt to Conceal the Flood Crisis

The tail end of Typhoon Gaemi has left a trail of destruction in both China and North Korea with the rainfall significantly increasing levels in the Yalu River that divides the two countries, causing severe flooding and landslides. In recent weeks, North Korea has faced devastating floods that have wreaked havoc across the country, leading to significant loss of life and property. Although Pyongyang did not reveal official numbers of the affected population, the floods have forced the evacuation of over 27,000 people in the northeastern regions bordering North Korea alone. The heavy rainfall also led to railway disruptions and road collapses, complicating rescue and relief efforts.

In response, the state dispatched military helicopters to rescue more than 5,000 civilians from severe flooding in the northwest region near the Chinese border. Despite these efforts, the scale of the flood has overwhelmed the country’s limited resources, further exacerbating its already challenging living conditions. Amidst the unfolding crisis, the government’s response has been marked by attempts to downplay the severity of the disaster by accusing "the ROK scum” (referring to South Korea) of spreading rumors that the toll for the missing and the dead could be as high as 1,500.

THE GOVERNMENT’S CONCEALMENT EFFORTS

In a highly publicized move, North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un, was seen surveying the flood damages in his luxurious Lexus LX 600. Kim’s vehicle was spotted navigating along muddy roads while being submerged in several feet of water. In an attempt to portray their leader’s concern and control over the situation, state media took this opportunity to praise Kim for “putting himself out there and demonstrating that the state is able to provide for its people.” Kim also showed empathy to his people by openly criticizing officials for their failure to prepare and respond to the recent torrential rain, despite previous orders to improve the country’s measures against natural disasters. As a result, Kim had reportedly dismissed the provincial party committee secretary of Chagang Province, Kang Bong-hun, and the minister of social security, Ri Thae-sop, from their positions during an emergency meeting in Sinuiju city.

Meanwhile, the government made concerted efforts to conceal the true extent of the damage. Reports indicate that the authorities have ordered flood victims who lost their families or homes not to express grief publicly. Days following the mass evacuations, residents from North Pyongan were forced to watch propaganda videos of Kim rescuing people in the flooded areas as a hero. An evacuee told Radio Free Asia that, “On the first day, flood victims cried in despair because their elderly parents and young children were washed away by the flood, but they were stopped by guards. ... The guards insisted that the victims be thankful for Kim Jong Un’s love for his people.” Another resident from Wihwa island, which is situated near the mouth of the Yalu, confirmed that, despite the number of missing and dead exceeding 1,000 after people were washed away by the current or killed when their homes collapsed due to heavy rain, “they are unable to even show a sad expression on their faces due to surveillance from the authorities” while being forced to give thanks to their leader for saving them every day.

REJECTION OF OUTSIDE AID AND YOUTH MOBILIZATION

In a bold move, North Korea rejected offers of humanitarian aid from neighboring countries, including South Korea, China and Russia, perhaps as part of a political statement to reflect the regime’s desire to project self-reliance and avoid any perception of weakness. Further, by declining China’s offer to rescue its people stranded on islands in the Yalu, Pyongyang tactfully prevents those rescued from attempting to defect to China at the cost of countless lives.

Despite the significant dangers posed by the devastated areas, North Korean authorities also dispatched 300,000 young “volunteers” to live and rebuild 4,400 new homes in a major flood disaster zone near the Chinese border in the name of instilling obedience through hard labor. The affected areas remain hazardous, with unstable structures, contaminated water and the risk of further landslides and flooding. Yet, the government pressed ahead with the mobilization, emphasizing the importance of collective effort and sacrifice as young people are being thrust into dangerous living and working conditions.