I‘m beginning to think that the DPRK is a lot like Disney World–a place where reality is suspended the moment you enter.

Or maybe it’s more like a UFO convention,–anyone who does enter has already embarked on an out-of-this-world exploration.

The truth is that I’m a lot like you: I don’t know what to think for sure. The rhetoric, allegations and activities just seem to get more bizarre as we go. From the recent claim that DPRK scientists have developed nuclear fusion, to threats of turning Seoul into a “sea of fire”, to the idea that Aijalon Mahli Gomes has attempted suicide, the hits just keep coming. If the subject matter was not so grim, one would think that the Central News Agency is like a global Saturday Night Live. Incredible stuff.

Here’s the announcement concerning Aijalon:

American Prisoner Attempts Suicide
Pyongyang, July 9 (KCNA) — American Gomes serving a prison term in the DPRK recently attempted to take his own life, according to information available from a relevant organ.

Driven by his strong guilty conscience, disappointment and despair at the U.S. government that has not taken any measure for his freedom, he attempted to commit suicide. He is now given first-aid treatment at a hospital.

The Swedish embassy here representing the U.S. interests acquainted itself with the condition of the patient at the hospital.

Pyongyang isn’t the only party to this unusual dance, though. Robert Park and Aijalon Gomes are stories in themselves. Both have been driven by intense emotional concerns to do something that most folks would never consider–walking straight into the arms of terror, torture and a timeless visit to the depths of inanity. Did Robert Park believe that the North Korean gulag would extend an open-armed welcome to his demands that the people be set free? Did he imagine that the leadership would suddenly repent of their crimes against humanity and sing the Hallelujah Chorus with him?

And what about Aijalon Gomes? What was he thinking in the first place? Was he going in to rescue Robert Park? Was he planning to offer himself as a sacrifice to the great cause? Or, as the Liberate Laura writer has suggested, was he just running from his own demons and just ended up a bit too far north? The heck of it is that we really can’t expect to learn more about the truth of the events in any foreseeable future. For some reason, those who enter the North Korean indoctrination camps come out with lips sealed. Maybe the brain scans and memory readjustments that the UFO crowd says take place when one gets beamed up to a waiting space craft really occur in North Korea.

After all, the people’s newspaper says that the DPRK is way ahead of the rest of the world in matters pertaining to science and sociology. And everybody knows that the news doesn’t lie….

For my end, I’m writing this from a campground in Colorado. I’m sitting by a beautiful little creek, watching the wildlife (including my children) play and breathing some good mountain air. I wish the entire population of this planet was so blessed. I wish that not a person, anywhere, was imprisoned, hungry, homeless or hopeless. I wish that the Creator and Father of us all would come right now to establish His kingdom of everlasting Peace and Love.

But I’m not running the show, so I will wait and watch and listen and think: What if the whole world would stop… listen… right now? What if the whole world would stop… and pray?

My prayers for Aijalon Mahli Gomes, Robert Park and all those in captivity, everywhere. My prayers for you and yours.

The kingdom of this world
Is become the kingdom of our Lord,
And of His Christ, and of His Christ;
And He shall reign for ever and ever,
For ever and ever, forever and ever…

(From the Hallelujah Chorus)