News from North Korea

This report is from Voice of the Martyrs regarding the North Korean governments’ arrest of Christians. In a highly unusual press conference in Pyongyang in September, the National Security Service of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea announced the arrest of “foreign spies” and “native citizens working for a foreign intelligence service.” The Voice of the Martyrs, a ministry serving Christians in restricted nations who are persecuted for their faith, announced that those arrested in North Korea were in fact Christian believers and not spies.

The security service spokesman at the press conference said that those arrested “carried out the missions by means of diverse espionage equipment.” He did not name any of those arrested.
Voice of the Martyrs has identified the North Korean Christians who have disappeared and are believed to have been arrested by government authorities.

These North Korean Christians had started a portrait photography studio to help support themselves, and had registered their businesses with appropriate government authorities. According to Voice of the Martyrs sources working in North Korea, they were not involved in espionage activities. It is believed that equipment taken by the government was in fact photography equipment used in their portrait work.

Todd Nettleton, spokesperson for VOM , said, “Following Jesus Christ is considered treason in North Korea, where the government mandates that worship is reserved for deceased dictator Kim Il Sung and his son, the current dictator, Kim Jong Il. The Voice of the Martyrs is proud to stand with Christ’s followers in North Korea, and deeply concerned for the well-being of our brothers and sisters there. We call on the North Korean government to release these Christian believers, who were involved in legitimate business activities to support themselves and their families.”

The Voice of the Martyrs has been actively involved in helping North Korean Christians for decades. Among the projects the ministry has carried out for North Korea is the launch of thousands of “scripture balloons,” Mylar balloons filled with helium and printed on either side with scripture passages. Voice of the Martyrs has conducted other projects to help North Korean Christians but cannot discuss details publicly to protect the safety of their workers and contacts inside North Korea.

Their sources do not know the whereabouts of the arrested believers. It is possible that they have already been tried and executed.

OTHER STUFF
There are many Christian authors, but few find their books being made into major motion pictures. Robert Whitlow, University of Georgia graduate, is an attorney and best selling author. His first book, The List, will open on the big screen in Athens, Georgia this weekend. It is a great reminder of the power of prayer.

While WorldReach is not normally used to promote media events, this particular movie contrasts the spiritual battle between good and evil, and the manner in which we as born again believers can join the battle.