A Tokyo court has ordered North Korea to pay compensation to people who were deceived into moving there decades ago. The case involves four former residents who said they were lured by a propaganda campaign that described North Korea as a “paradise on Earth.” Instead, they faced harsh living conditions, forced labor, strict controls, and no freedom to leave. The plaintiffs were part of a larger group of ethnic Koreans living in Japan who moved to North Korea between 1959 and 1984 under a resettlement scheme. Many later said their lives were ruined by broken promises. Although the ruling asks Pyongyang to pay 88 million yen, it is mostly symbolic because North Korea has ignored the lawsuit and is unlikely to comply. Still, lawyers called the decision historic because a Japanese court officially recognized North Korea’s wrongdoing. The ruling also brings attention to past human rights abuses and gives survivors long-delayed recognition and dignity.

Pray for the LORD’S intervention in North Korea to end the oppression of innocent civilians. Pray for the rights and freedoms of people to be defended by the North Korean government (The Holy Bible, Psalm 12:5).

Pray for the international authorities to take more effective action against the oppressive regime in North Korea. Pray for justice to be served for the victims. Pray for the innocent civilians to have access to protection, peace, rights, and freedoms in their homeland (The Holy Bible, Psalm 119:134).

News Source: BBC

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