Evidently the global warming phenomenon has not yet hit North Korea. Maybe not enough SUV's? For that matter it hasn't been all that warm in my Chicago either. Whatever, it's been over 5 degrees colder this May. If you go into the far Northeastern sections, that translates into freezing temperatures, and crops that will not grow.

The weather set back rice transplantation anywhere from 10 to 15 days. It has "affected the growth of maize crops on a vast acreage of fields, cultivation of rice seedlings and the striking of roots of rice seedlings in the west coastal areas, the granary."

North Korea's food supply was already dangerously low. The deficit of 2007 was about a million tons. This year the prediction is closer to twice that amount. This came about for a couple of reasons: Floods and politics.

Last year's devastating floods are now showing their effects. Wikipedia says, "The flooding submerged, buried or washed away more than 11 percent of the country's rice and corn fields. The North is especially susceptible to bad weather because of a vicious circle where people strip hillsides of natural vegetation to create more arable land to grow food - increasing the risk of floods. On August 16, 2007, Paul Lysley, spokesperson for the WFP Asia, has estimated the damage to crops alone at 450,000 tons. Some 223,381 hectares of farmland were damaged, with about 20 percent of North Korea's paddy fields and 15 percent of its corn fields flooded or washed away."

Then came Myung-bak Lee. A popular new President has taken the reins of South Korea's government. One of the platforms on which he ran for office was a get-tough policy with North Korea. Most of us can understand and agree with this long overdue stance. But Kim Jong-Il of the North is not so happy. And in keeping with his ways, Kim has decided to shame this new leader by not asking his help.

Very smart. "Hey, you don't like me? I'll starve my whole nation!"

The U.S. is still in the game. As you recall NK, US & others are involved in talks after which Mr. Kim will politely lay down his (nuclear) weapons. Just after he has "allowed" everyone to bail him out of this latest crisis. 500,000 tons of food will come from our shores. But it won't be long before this crazed regime will begin cursing us, and reminding us that we owe them not only this shipment but many more.

An impossible situation. Ruined crops. Ruined people. Ah, but God is able.

We must continue to pray now for North Korea's greatest breakthrough. If hard hearts are not swayed by the Gospel or the hand of God quickly, we will once again be reading of the horrors of a genocidal famine in a land that lost 2-3 million of its citizens not too awfully long ago in the same way.