This helpful article from The Weekly will help you to understand the situation in North Korea and how we ought to pray about this very threatening situation:

“Here are five facts you should know about North Korea, the world’s most repressive regime:

1. North Korea was created after the Korean peninsula was divided in the aftermath of World War II. Following the surrender of Japanese forces in 1945, Gen. Douglas MacArthur, supreme commander for the Allied powers, issuedGeneral Order No. 1. In this order, the Japanese empire was required to surrender all portions of Korea north of 38 north latitude to the Soviet Union and all of Korea south of that marker to the United States (thearbitrary choice of the dividing line, which has affected international relations for more than 70 years, was “recommended by two tired colonels working late at night”). That December, the Soviets installed a communist guerrilla leader named Kim Il-sung as the chairman of the North Korean branch of the Korean Communist Party. When the DPRK was formed in September 1948, the Soviets recognized Kim Il-sung as the leader of Korea, both North and South. The autocratic Kim family—Kim Il-sung, his son Kim Jong-il, and grandson Kim Jong-un—have ruled the country every since.
   
2. Soon after taking control of his country, Kim Il-sung developed such a strong personality cult that under the DPRK constitution he remains, even in death, the “eternal President of the Republic.” Within a year of being appointed premier, Kim Il-sung was referring to himself as “The Great Leader” and erecting statues of himself (the country now has more than 500 statues of him). His birthday is a national holiday known as the “Day of the Sun”, and in 1997 Kim Il-sung even created a new calendar that recalculated time from the year 1912, when he “came to earth from Heaven.”
   
3. In 1972, after he surrendered his Soviet premiership and became President of North Korea, Kim Il-sung instituted the ideology known asJuche, a form of hyper-nationalistic self-reliance. As theDPRK explains, “The Juche idea means, in a nutshell, that the masters of the revolution and construction are the masses of the people and that they are also the motive force of the revolution and construction. The Juche idea is based on the philosophical principle that man is the master of everything and decides everything.” Writing in the Stanford Journal of East Asian Affairs, Grace Lee explains how this official autarkic state ideology is used to keep the North Korean population under control:

The Kim Il Sung regime instructed the North Korean people in the juche ideology using an analogy drawn from human anatomy. The Great Leader is the brain that makes decisions and issues orders, the Party is the nervous system that channels information, and the people are the bone and muscle that physically execute the orders. This belief system, inculcated in North Koreans since early childhood, made them docile and loyal to Kim Il Sung even in the face of famines and energy crises that have devastated the country.

4. Knowledge of the outside world is limited for most North Korean citizens. All legal televisions aretuned to state-controlled domestic programming, and outside of a closed domestic network, there is no internet access. The state maintains a network of informants who monitor and report to the authorities fellow citizens they suspect of criminal or subversive behavior,USA Today notes, and unauthorized access to non-state radio or TV broadcasts is severely punished.
   
5. Religious freedom is nonexistent in the country. The North Korean regime considers Christianity the biggest threat,as the USCIRF says, because it associates that faith with the West, particularly the United States. The North Korean government relentlessly persecutes and punishes religious believers through arrest, torture, imprisonment, and sometimes execution. Once Christians are imprisoned, they are typically sent to political prison camps where they are “treated with extraordinary cruelty.” According to the U.S. State Department, tens of thousands of Christians are in political prison and facing hard labor or execution because of their faith.
   
6. Kim Jong-un’s regime is intent on developing an intercontinental ballistic missile that can strike the U.S. with nuclear warheads. He believes this will help him reach his main strategic goal, whichthe Pentagon identifiesas ensuring “Kim family rule in perpetuity.” The Pentagon also notes that the overarching national security objectives of Kim Jong-un have remained largely consistent: international recognition as a nuclear armed state; maintenance of a viable deterrent capability; the simultaneous development of its economy and nuclear weapons program (i.e., the “byungjin” line); reinforcement of its military-first approach to domestic and foreign affairs (“songun”); tight control over communications, borders, movement, and trade; and reunification of Korea under North Korea’s control.” The Defense Department says North Korea uses reunification with South Korea as a key component of its national identity narrative to validate its strategy and policies, and to justify sacrifices demanded of the populace.”
   
   From: "The Weekly" <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
   Date: Aug 11, 2017 

Please watch and pray over the news from the Korean peninsula. This is the most threatening and dangerous situation the world faces right now and it looks to be worsening. Pray that the North Koreans will back down from their provocative actions and that Kim Jong Un will either change course or be removed by his own government or by Chinese intervention. Pray that a military confrontation that could take the lives of hundreds of thousands or even millions would be averted. Ask that God would give special wisdom and restraint to President Trump, President Xi Jinping of China, President Moon Jae-in of South Korea as well as all other leaders involved in the current crisis that a peaceful solution can be found to ending North Korea’s nuclear threats and weapons program

One expert who participated in the North American Prayer Summit affirmed that “the most dangerous threat to North America and Europe is Islam”. Muslims, he said, are training millions to come into every nation around the world. Their strategy is especially to infiltrate Europe and North America and then later take Israel. They have told him they are “way ahead of schedule”.

He listed ten elements of their strategy to subvert and eventually conquer the non-Muslim world through their multi-faceted jihad:

1 Population growth- marry and have as many kids as possible.

They will then press for the rule of sharia law when they get to 5% of a nation’s population.

2 Lying/Deceit- this is not wrong in Islam and their god Allah encourages it if it advances the jihad. 

3 Education- textbooks in the USA are being bankrolled by Saudi Arabia and Iran- K through 12. Islam is being taught and Christianity is being left out. Some children are being made to repeat Islamic prayers in Florida.

4 Military- get Muslims into the armed services to be ready to mount attacks such as happened at Fort Hood in the USA where a Muslim soldier massacred other soldiers.

5 Media- Hollywood and news- you can’t say anything against Islam since they control major news channels and now are going after Fox News as well.

6 Business- some banks are being taken over and they are sending people to infiltrate. 

7 Government- Muslims have been in the White House since Obama’s time there. Al Qaeda told this presenter: “We will have people in the U.S. government.”

8 Church- the final battle will be with Islam. “We will bring the Church down and turn churches into mosques.” Attacks on churches are occurring and some Christian organizations are being labeled as “hate groups” by Muslim controlled or funded news and advocacy groups. 

9 Family- destroy families. Working through the homosexual agenda- anything to bring down infidels. 

10 Jihad- spiritual war. If a Muslim kills an infidel, he will go to heaven and take his relatives with him. Muslim training centers, mosques, etc. have proliferated in the West. 

Our participating expert concluded that “Islam is a major giant that will crush North America unless we use the authority God has given us.” He urged us to pray with Christ’s delegated authority and unity for the overthrow of their plans and that His people will reach out with the Gospel to win them! As we engage, He will give His angels charge over us (Ps 91:11) 

Let’s pray that the Church will wake up and engage in wise and loving outreach to the Muslims in our midst. We have a terrific opportunity to reach them now that they are living among us. Let’s begin to identify and pray for them, then reach out with the love of Jesus Christ so they may be saved. In various parts of the world, hundreds of thousands of Muslims have been coming to Christ so we should be hopeful about winning them. Islam is an empty, oppressive and false religion that has nothing to offer those trapped in its domain. May they experience the salvation and abundant life that only comes through Jesus Christ!

(A presentation given at the North American Prayer Summit, August 21-24, St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada)

The nature of Mexico’s problems, such as narco-trafficking, worship of dead, etc. go back to its idolatrous and occult roots. At Tepeyac, near Mexico City, sacrifices were made for centuries to Tonantzin, the Aztec serpent goddess who some think continues to be worshipped as the Virgin of Guadalupe since that is where the apparition appeared in 1531. Dec 12 celebrates the birth of this goddess and it is now the patroness of the nation.

Some also think that it was the mass human sacrifice and idolatry in the 15^th century and 16^th  centuries that brought about the invasion of the Spanish conqueror, Hernan Cortez, and through that, God’s judgement on the murderous Aztec civilization. Half the population of that area was rapidly eliminated through disease and over time 97% died off. The current problems they have in Mexico today could be the result of these events. Pray for liberation of the Mexican people from the idolatrous Virgin of Guadalupe cult that has captured "the majority of the population and government officials. It has been said that the flip side" of this cult is the worship of Santa Muerte (Saint Death) that millions of additional Mexicans and increasing numbers in the USA pay obeisance to.

Now there is rampant corruption, drug addiction, youth suicide, vandalism, as well as child abuse, and even infanticide to keep children from such a life of suffering. Nevertheless, there are some hopeful developments such as the governor of Chihuahua who has decided to fight corruption. Pray for those Christian leaders who are working with him. May this become an open door to change the atmosphere and culture of the state.

During October in Michoacan, the “soul of Mexico” where the constitution was written, Pastor Martha Valdoviezo is going to the center of city with other pastors to pray for three days day and nights- a time of repentance for the sin and pain of Morelia. Pray for His strong anointing on her and the other ministry leaders- that God will unite and give them clarity for the transformation of their city and state.

Mexico City is surrounded by three states (8.5 million population but with the surrounding area included there are 24 million living in that area). The mayor opened up to Scientology recently and gave them a permit to locate a central office for Latin America there. They want to build 10 centers now. Pray that this decision will be reversed and that the false teachings of Scientology will be rejected by the government and the people.

In 1976, the Santa Muerte cult began in Mexico City. It is still growing and going after influential people. Pray with His authority and faith for the overthow of these and other false cults and that the Mexican people will serve the one and only Lord.

Mexico’s future economic prospects look hopeful due to the number of youth and children in the population and a good growth curve. Conversely, the USA and Canada may face a future economic downturn since population growth curve is not as good. Pray for the health and growth of the Mexican economy and that the big hindrance of corruption will be dealt with effectively.

The Church needs to have the opportunity to influence Mexico’s children for the Kingdom of God. Pray for real freedom from government control for Christian schools to give children and youth the knowledge of the Lord. 

Mexico’s national election will be held next year. Pray that a man or woman of God will be able to run and win the election. Lopez Obrador, the socialist, currently has lots of support. Pray that he will not get in because his socialist policies would destroy the nation. 

A new movement of prayer has arisen in the country that is connecting the Body of Christ in new ways and has lots of youth involved. Pray for such efforts to prosper in the land and for the real unity of the prayer movement and the leaders of its various streams. 

Pray for the current NAFTA renegotiations- that the USA will undergird Mexico and that each nation will benefit.

Presented by one of the NAPS participants who comes from Mexico City

Approximately 90 leaders of prayer ministries and networks from Mexico, the USA and Canada met in beautiful Newfoundland and enjoyed deep times of prayer and sharing in the Lord as well as a lot of fun together! It was a time of rebuilding and strengthening our relationships and the connections between our national prayer movements as well as praying for some of the current issues that affect our continent. 

From the very beginning, as we let “God be God and the Body be the Body”, we sensed that because of Newfoundland’s history there is a portal or gate (both vertical and horizontal) through which the Holy Spirit wants to flow into the rest of North America. We prayed a number of times about this, including on Signal Hill overlooking the city: “Welcome Holy Spirit, come! Welcome into North America. Launch a new Great Awakening!”

We also reaffirmed our unity in the Spirit that even transcends our national cultures and boundaries as members of His “eternal family”. One participant saw our national delegations as acrobats, standing on each other’s shoulders, pulling one another up, so that each nation finds its deeper destiny as part of a whole, integrated North America.

One prayer leader shared his dream of leaders in celebration, full of victory and joy. There was nothing but victory as if they had just won the Super Bowl. All were receiving gold rings. The global prayer movement is now in prime time, establishing its new authority as God’s sons and daughters to exercise governmental authority. “I am looking to position my people from Heaven’s perspective.” We should not react to things around us, but since He is the Captain of this team, we need to huddle around Him and then execute His plans. Sure victory will result. This is the season to release victory throughout the world.

We prayed for all three nations and for the continent as a whole, especially that the current NAFTA renegotiations to benefit all three nations.  It needs to be stronger because of China! We were inspired by the presentation on how God has transformed Juarez, Mexico through a movement of united prayer and action led by Pastor Poncho Murguia.

An expert on Islam warned us to pray about the threats posed by the Islamic jihad to subvert and conquer North America, Europe and other currently non-Muslim areas of our world. (You can read his more detailed assessment of what their strategy is in another article in this Connections edition.)

Jerry Tuma, a “prophetic economist from Texas” spoke to us about how humanism has gotten a stronghold in our cultures and thinking about population growth, which is what God has always wanted. “Be fruitful and multiply” has never been rescinded. Paul Erlich’s Population Bomb, is full of assumptions and outright lies. Satan has used such thinking to steal human lives. More than 57 million US children have been aborted partly because of this erroneous scarcity mentality. Now an entitlement crisis is coming. Humanists have influenced our nations, but God is not lacking and there is no lack of resources. "The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof." There are still enormous resources, and prosperity is associated with growing populations. Jerry told us we need to return to biblical economics. We need a transnational entity connecting the three nations. True collaboration is needed so let’s continue to be in prayer for the NAFTA renegotiation. 

Some of the Common Issues Identified and Prayed About

We need to continue praying about these things in all three nations:

Identity – gender and ID in Christ

Unity in the church

Identity for the church – stewardship of the culture

Pornography

Homosexuality and redefinition of families

Churches’ apathy and lack of involvement

Lack of fear of the Lord

Lack of love to children

Adultery

Trafficking

Drug use

Family redefinition and sexual perversion

Public corruption

Homelessness

Lovelessness/lack of forgiveness

Lack of prayer in church leadership

Bloodguilt for indigenous people

Breakdown of family

Sexualization of society

Church is asleep

Church too much like the culture

Antisemitism

Focusing too much time on giant issues – not enough on Jesus

Broken covenants

Euthanasia

Growing legal persecution of churches/ministries

Homosexuality

Healing

Younger generations out of church

Lawlessness

Evangelism lacking

Lack of conflict management

Lack of fear of the Lord

Attack on Truth

Family issues

Abortion and Sanctity of life

Justice being twisted – inequities

Radical feminism

Freedom of speech eroding- political correctness affecting society e.g. Canadian law re. speaking out against Muslims, LGBT, etc.

Proliferation of drugs

Drugs/addictions rather than Christ

Church shirking duties – need to speak Truth to overcome deception

Have unity in church (John 17) – appeal to heaven to bring it

Tolerance in the church instead of Truth

Love of Father God – express Truth in love – to heal hearts

Death and violence

Greed

Idolatry

Witchcraft and occult connections and influence in government

Untimely death and culture of death

Lack of principled values

Distraction of social media – rebellion

Hidden agendas in schools – homosexuality, drugs, racism

Churches focused on inward vision rather than mission

Orphan spirit

False spirits in media and perversion of truth

Student debt

New media – standard of truth lacking

No discipleship in churches

Continental immigration vision

Freedom of speech

Religious liberty

Islamic deception

Economy 

Wicked political leaders

Unity of the prayer movement

Prayer Needs for the USA:

Jason Hubbard- “One Church, One Day” initiative is building canopies of united sustainable prayer over communities. America Prays- every state will be covered in 24/7 40,000 local churches taking one day per month. Being launched during the Awaken the Dawn prayer effort on the DC Mall on October 7. 

Jonathan Friz- “10 Days of Prayer” initiative. God wants to raise up movements of John 17 unity in our cities. City-wide churches, not separate kingdoms. 10 Days is a strategy to see it happen in our areas. Fasting, mourning and repentance. Jonathan had a vision of it going many places around the world and this year 34 cities in USA and Africa will take part. Please pray for the success of these and other new movements prayer led by younger leaders.

Jon Graf from the U.S. National Prayer Committee urged us to pray for the National Day of Prayer and its new leadership to become a movement, not just one day per year and that a national rhythm of prayer for the next Great Awakening will take shape.

2 Also that it will become a multi-generational, multi-denominational and multi-ethnic movement of prayer. Many of largest prayer ministries will merge into it or significantly partner. 

3Pray for Unity and Wisdom as massive changes in the leadership of prayer movement happen. Every revival happened at times of political and social desperation.

Prayer needs for Canada:

1Progressivism creeping in regarding criticism of Muslims and LGBT.

2 Need prayer for French-English division. 

3 First Nations see English colonization as a tragedy and do not celebrate Canada Day. Native kids were forced into residential schools. Still a deep rift needing healing. 

4 Gateways in Vancouver and St. John’s, Newfoundland. Send a mighty move of God through these cities!

5 Quebec- wants to be loved and accepted as they are. Great revival as result!

6 Unity of the church and prayer movement.  At the150^th anniversary of Canada, July 1^st- “WE ARE ONE!” 

Mexico’s Prayer Needs (please see the separate article in this Connections attached below)

Australia

Jamie Pryor, a prayer leader from Australia, told us about the unity of the prayer movement in Australia. Their leaders are praying every week together and building familial relationships. They don’t try to become one organization but follow the same values in unity. They believe such an approach will help ready us for persecution. He asked that we pray for Australia that the plebiscite on homosexual marriage will be defeated.

Some suggested next steps for the North American Prayer Summit:

1 Lack of intergenerational transference- how to accomplish this? Sobriety re. lack of discipleship of the next generation. Children and youth- we have not included the kids thus far. Can we bring them into the NAPS? Bring one youth each next time? National prayer summit aimed at youth? 

2 We need a strategy to take action. Make NAPS more diverse ethnically, generationally. Sacrifice time and resources to bring youth and other ethnic groups. 

3 Building unity- how do we come together in unity as prayer movements and prayer leaders? We have different gifts and need to draw them together. We are family and need to stay in communication to pray what is from His heart. Use teleconferencing or Zoom. Respond to issues and intercede. Focus on the positive and what He is doing. An email prayer alert would help. 

4 God wants to raise up a movement of prayer across the three nations. Come together once a year. Pray for each other’s nations. How about triplet prayer on the phone with a Canadian and Mexican once per week or month? We need each other. 

5 It is time to rise up. Work and pray for a transnational identity. Incorporate worship and prayer together. Develop an app with categories for use so we can call each other and pray. 

6 Promote a Kingdom mentality and get beyond our own groups. Use the Moravian model for intercessory unity. Prayer in cities and involve the pastors. As the Church operates in unity through love, the city can be transformed. Loving our cities. 

7 Love the Muslims and speak truth in love to them. Pray for the children of Islamic world.

We sang out the prayer song “You Said”: Ask and you will receive…I’ll heal your land…your glory will fill the earth..the harvest is here,the Kingdom is near… ask and I will give the nations to you.. distant shores and the islands will see your light as it rises on us.” (Psalm 2:8) Pray that we in North America will play our part in praying for and reaching the still unreached peoples of the earth, that transcendent call of God known as the Great Commission.

This excellent video on NAPS by Eric Teitelman covers the NAPS prayer tour we took to pray for our continent from its easternmost point  https://youtu.be/dHOY5FYgid0