In 1949, an energized Kim Il Sung tried to convince Russia's Stalin that the "South" needed invading. The U.S. was dropping hints that it was too strapped to protect Taiwan, and the powers that were assumed that meant they wouldn't put out a helping hand to South Korea either. Bad assumption. But it was one of the reasons Stalin gave his nod to the plan. The great Russian ogre himself stayed in the background, maneuvering dependent China to the fore.

Kim actually believed that once the liberation army got south of the DMZ, down into Seoul and the rest of the country, hordes of disgruntled citizens would rise up and with him bring on the glorious day of Communism to the entire peninsula. Another bad assumption.

Only a few brainwashed pockets of SK residents "rose up" to join Kim's considerable army. Just before his invasion, in 1950, he made one last call for "re-unification" (a code word that to this day means, "Communism controls all"). He asked for diplomats to come to Pyongyang. He then attacked, but for a long time his ill-informed citizenry believed he was responding to an expected attack from the South. He made his people believe that they were being besieged and then called on their patriotism to defeat America and the wicked brothers below.

Before American forces, joined to the not-so-wonderful army of the South, could get their act fully together, Northern troops had pushed their way through most of the country. One last stand at Pusan in the far south kept Kim from taking the entire country for Communism.

We can say this miracle had something to do with American air power or we can give all glory to God who left a door of freedom open. I know my life would have been very different had Korea closed altogether: I am married to a former resident of Seoul...

More on the Korean War another time. I invite you to join me in prayer for a people who have been in pain for most of their existence. Look at her history, dating back to the days of Abraham. Then look at what Christ is doing in the last 50 years in South Korea. The contrast is so obvious.