World News and Trends: Koreas at the brink?

Aug 1, 2010
2 minutes read time

War and conflicts continue to grow between North and South Korea despite UN Security Council efforts.

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At the end of the Korean War in 1953, the United States and the Soviet Union divided Korea at the 38th parallel (a narrow strip here becoming the Demilitarized Zone or DMZ). Nearly all Koreans were opposed to the separation. Their differences and antagonisms have since grown and deepened. Currently North Korea's absolute leader is the ailing Kim Jong Il, who is also head of the fourth-largest army in the world. On March 26, 2010, the South Korean warship Cheonan was sunk by a torpedo apparently launched by a North Korean submarine, killing 46 of the 104 sailors aboard. South Korea has now sought intervention from the UN Security Council, taking the strongest step ever toward bringing international punishment to the communist North. "'North Korea must admit its wrongdoing' and 'pledge to never again engage in such a reprehensible action,' [South Korean President] Lee [Myung-bak] said. 'If the enemy continues to taunt us and think that they can do whatever they want they must understand that there is a limit. They 'must understand very clearly that they will have to suffer the consequences'" (Associated Press, June 5, 2010). North Korea, meanwhile, denies responsibility for the attack and warns that any punitive move against the country could lead to another war. The story of the two Koreas is the story of the world—division caused by confusion. God says that the way of peace is not humanly inherent (Jeremiah 10:23). He promises humanity peace only at the return of the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6-7). Then not only will the two Koreas be united, but so will all peoples on earth (Isaiah 11). (Source: Associated Press.)
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Jerold Aust

Jerold Aust has served in the ministry for 52 years, as a public speaker for 58 years, a published writer for 38 years, and is employed by UCG’s Media and Communications Services. He is a Senior Writer, interviewer, and editor for Beyond Today Magazine and has taught Speech Communication for UCG’s ministerial online program and the Book of Revelation for ABC.  

Jerold holds a BA in theology from Ambassador College, Pasadena (1968), an MA in Communication from California State University, Fullerton (1995), a distance-learning Ph.D (2006), and a Famous Writers School diploma in non-fiction writing (1973). Additionally, he studied post-grad communication at University of Southern California (1995), radio, TV, voice-overs, and Public Relations at Fullerton College (1995-1996), and graduate communication at Wichita State University (1978).  Jerold has taught communication at the University of South Alabama (7 years) and ABC (17 years). His published works include, Ronald Reagan’s Rhetoric: Metaphor as Persuasion and EZSpeakers: Public Speaking Made Easy in 7 Steps.  Jerold's overarching goal is to share with humankind its incredible destiny!

John Ross Schroeder

John died on March 8, 2014, in Oxford, England, four days after suffering cardiac arrest while returning home from a press event in London. John was 77 and still going strong.

Some of John's work for The Good News appeared under his byline, but much didn't. He wrote more than a thousand articles over the years, but also wrote the Questions and Answers section of the magazine, compiled our Letters From Our Readers, and wrote many of the items in the Current Events and Trends section. He also contributed greatly to a number of our study guides and Bible Study Course lessons. His writing has touched the lives of literally millions of people over the years.

John traveled widely over the years as an accredited journalist, especially in Europe. His knowledge of European and Middle East history added a great deal to his articles on history and Bible prophecy.

In his later years he also pastored congregations in Northern Ireland and East Sussex, and that experience added another dimension to his writing. He and his wife Jan were an effective team in our British Isles office near their home.

John was a humble servant who dedicated his life to sharing the gospel—the good news—of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God to all the world, and his work was known to readers in nearly every country of the world.