We're in the 80's. In 1985, North Korea signs the "Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty." We promise not to encourage this sort of weaponry any longer, they say. But no one is allowed in at first to see that they are really keeping their promise. They do actually process uranium during the 80's and in 1991 it is clear that North Korea is testing weapons.

And in their thinking, none too soon. Here comes the first Iraq War. The North must have had a jolt during this time, watching equipment similar to theirs being chewed up by America's power.

1992: North Korea continues to lose support from and ties with Communist countries. Even China normalizes relationships with Seoul! Thus comes the idea of "economic zones." From 1990 the economy has been shrinking. Maybe 30% in 1992 alone! China and Russia are demanding hard currency settlements to some seriously outstanding debts. Up to half of NK's factories have shut down. Energy is shrinking by the day. The pressure is on.

It is obvious that capitalistic enterprises will bring in the cash flow. But in a Communist country? The government solves this dilemma with the opening of "zones" of free trade and business. Tiny sections of the country , as the east-coast Rajin-Sonbong sector, are essentially cut off from the "mainland", and enterprising capitalists from other countries are allowed to come in and have limited growth. Investors are lured in to help save the day.

In the midst of all of this restructuring and chaos, Eastern Europe falls. Dictators are assassinated or run from power. North Korea panics. Though some inspections have been allowed, by 1993 NK withdraws from the NPT altogether, and Kim Jong Il is basically in charge, with Kim Il Sung serving more as advisor than anything. The son soon turns the government from being a Communist Party dictatorship to being a military dictatorship.

Someone said "the mills of God and of history grind slowly but exceedingly fine." Who could have foretold such a long and drawn-out history of a nation such as North Korea? Yet slowly and surely God has His perfect will in this land. The evil will be judged. The saints will be perfected, purged, made white. They would tell us they are content with Jesus.