Today, balloon launches became a crime in South Korea. What now?

Posted on June 12, 2020 by Pastor Foley

Authorities in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea (the area where most balloon launches happen) announced new restrictions on balloon launching today, effectively criminalizing and heavily fining not only launching but even the transport of materials for launch.

Here are a few notes from Gyeonggi Province Deputy Governor Lee’s announcement today:

Gyeonggi province Deputy Governor Lee has issued an entry ban on those who plan to fly leaflets over the border. He says launchers will be arrested if spotted.

The Deputy governor briefing made 3 points:

1. Designating certain areas of the province as “danger zones” and prohibiting entry of launchers into those areas.

2. Preemptively stopping the movements of vehicles and other balloon launch preparation actions.

3. Using Gyeonggi province’s special judicial police force to investigate, control, report these activities.

The argument given in the briefing was that NK has warned of balloon launches from the border area as a provocation. The Deputy Governor says “leafleting threatens the safety of residents so we ban the entry of leafletters entering the region. They will be arrested on site if spotted by the local government special police force.”

“The current 「Basic Act on Disaster and Safety Management」 Article 41 (Establishment of Hazardous Areas), Article 43 (Traffic Restriction, etc.) and Article 46 (Emergency Measures by the Metropolitan City/Do Governor) refer to the city’s provincial governor’s life and safety responsibilities. If necessary, it is possible to instruct emergency measures such as setting up hazardous areas and restricting traffic.”

Transport of gas for launching will also result in a fine or arrest.

The city plans to block the entrance to the “danger zones” with the cooperation of the police, etc., and if launchers attempt to enter the area, it will “take measures through the Special Judicial Police Corps in Gyeonggi-do, etc.,”

Materials sent to North Korea without prior notice to the authorities are regarded as illegal advertisements, and fines will be imposed according to the outdoor advertisement law.

Our VOMK response to the announcement follows.

Over the past 15 years, the respectful cooperation between Voice of the Martyrs Korea and Korean police, military, and intelligence services has served as an admirable international model for how the freedoms of speech and religion, the protection of property and public safety, and the advancement of political and economic peace and prosperity can all be safeguarded and jointly fostered, even during the most dangerous moments of inter-Korean tension and conflict.

We are disappointed that authorities have chosen to suddenly and unilaterally disregard this proven model of effective cooperation. We are grieved that they have criminalized even the most responsible and cooperative exercise of long-cherished rights as an inherent, imminent threat to peace and prosperity.

We call on all Korean authorities to return to their long-demonstrated commitment to cooperative, responsible, respectful dialogue among all stakeholders—listening not only to state actors but also NGOs and citizens who have acted responsibly for many years.  We believe this remains the only truly safe path forward. Cooperative, respectful preservation of the full range of rights has served us all well over the past 15 years, even during the times of greatest national danger. It has ensured that we can all make progress in all of the areas of importance to all of us, even in the midst of the most threatening rhetoric and actions.

Our commitment at Voice of the Martyrs Korea remains unchanged: We will continue to support all Korean Christians, both North and South, as they follow Christ. This is what our suffering Christian brothers and sisters in North Korea request, and it is what Christ commands.

There are times when governments criminalize the actions we as Christians are called to undertake. In such times, we remain subject to the governing authorities. This means that we will continue to do what God calls us to do, and we will willingly and joyfully suffer whatever penalty the authorities lay upon us as the price for that faithfulness. 

Additional information:

Voice of the Martyrs Korea has continuously pioneered numerous innovations to make balloon launches safe for all Koreans North and South, including:

–the use exclusively of non-flammable helium gas;

–predictive computer modeling and GPS tracking, to ensure that balloons are only launched when it is certain they will reach their intended destinations in North Korea;

–high-altitude balloons, which cross into North Korea well above the range of ground artillery;

–environmentally-friendly materials and clean-up practices; and, most of all,

–a cooperative arrangement with all enforcement authorities to ensure that the goals of all stakeholders may be achieved as far as possible.

We have launched without negative impact to life or property during far more contentious periods in North/South relations. Positively, in the past 15 years, the percentage of North Korean citizens who have seen a Bible with their own eyes has increased from essentially 0% to nearly 8%, according to the North Korean Human Rights Database.

We have never at any time sent any form of political message or propaganda but only the Chosun Bibles published by the North Korean government and protected under the North Korean constitution’s freedom of religion for all North Korean citizens.

All of our North Korean ministry projects are undertaken at the request and advice of underground North Korean Christians.

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90 years after Stalin tears down a cathedral, a new one seeks to honor him

Posted on June 9, 2020 by Pastor Foley

Controversy surrounds the opening of the new Resurrection of Christ Church in Kubinka near Moscow. The cathedral, designed as the Armed Forces’ main church, is designed to hold 6,000 worshipers and features a military green color and missile-like towers. It was built at a cost of around 6 billion Rubles (roughly 87 million USD), which church representatives say is the most expensive church building project in modern Russian history. Official opening of the cathedral, Russia’s third largest, was scheduled for May 9 in recognition of the 75th anniversary of Russia’s victory in the World War II but has been delayed due to the Coronavirus.

But it was what was not on display during a special inaugural prayer service that drew the most attention.

Two controversial mosaics originally planned for inclusion in the cathedral—one depicting former Russian leader Joseph Stalin and another depicting current Russia President Vladimir Putin and other officials—were displayed in a highly altered form that removed the controversial elements. Public concerns may have been the reason for the alterations.

The banner showing Stalin’s face was changed to one with a victory slogan on it. The mosaic showing President Putin’s face was changed to a more traditional icon, reportedly in consultation with President Putin.

Though the mosaics have been changed, the reported comments of officials who attended the prayer service remain concerning. Archpriest Leonid Kalinin, the head of the Experts’ Council for Church Art, Architecture and Restoration of the Russian Orthodox Church, is reported to have spoken in favor of keeping the images of Stalin and President Putin in the church. In conjunction with the inaugural prayer service, Deputy Defense Minister General Andrey Kartapolov is reported to have commented, “Stalin restored religion in Russia”. But nearly 90 years ago, in December 1931, it was Stalin who ordered the demolition of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow, not far from the dedication of this new cathedral.

The total number of Christian victims under the Soviet regime has been estimated to range around 12 to 20 million.

Buildings are often used to keep the history of military victories alive. But Christians around the world need to raise our voice to ensure that each new generation of Christians learns of the victory of Christian martyrs over Stalin and Communism. Rev. Richard Wurmbrand, the global founder of Voice of the martyrs, spent 14 years in a Communist prison in Romania. When Communism collapsed in Russia, Wurmbrand declared, “By love we have conquered.”

The victory of the Christian martyrs can best be remembered not in buildings but through books like Wurmbrand’s Tortured for Christ, which tells the story of Wurmbrand and other Christian prisoners under Communism. The book has been a bestseller in more than 60 languages. At Voice of the Martyrs Korea, our bestselling book is Marx and Satan, in which Rev. Wurmbrand documents the historical connections between Communism and Satanism. Both books are available through the Voice of the Martyrs Korea website, www.vomkorea.com/store, or by calling Voice of the Martyrs Korea at 02-2065-0703.

Though Rev. Wurmbrand died in 2001, were he alive today he would express strong concern but not surprise about the cathedral’s efforts to honor Stalin. He would remind us to overcome through love. He would have sent General Kartapolov and Archpriest Kalinin a warm, friendly letter and offered to publicly debate the General’s claim that “Stalin restored religion in Russia”. And he would have enclosed copies of Tortured for Christ and Marx and Satan and insisted that they read them and give out free copies of the books at the new cathedral, in remembrance of the millions of Christians who were martyred under Stalin and Communism.

Posted in Communism, Russia | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

New Coronavirus outbreak in NE China puts NK sex-trafficked women at risk of starvation

Posted on May 26, 2020 by Pastor Foley

The biggest worry today for North Korean women in Northeast China is not Coronavirus but starvation.

A new outbreak of Coronavirus in Northeast China’s Jilin Province has led authorities there to restrict travel and institute additional control measures. The new measures make it nearly impossible for North Korean sex-trafficked women there to feed their families.

Now even in the smallest markets and towns, in order to purchase food, ID cards are required. Of course the North Korean women don’t have ID cards because they were sex-trafficked to China illegally.

North Korean women living alone there are especially at risk. Some of the women’s husbands have died or abandoned them, or they have escaped abusive situations. Since ID cards are now required for food purchase, they cannot buy food to eat. They have no relatives who are legally able to purchase food for them. If they go to the market without ID cards, they can be reported and sent back to North Korea, where they will be severely punished.

By the grace of God, Voice of the Martyrs Korea anticipated the possible lockdown and has so far purchased a 7-month supply of food for 13 North Korean women and their families. But the number of North Korean women in the area is far greater. There are hundreds of sex-trafficked North Korean women in Jilin Province. They are spread all over the countryside, in very isolated areas. They have no one to turn to for help even when times are good. Now, under these lockdown conditions, they need all the prayers and assistance we can offer.

North Korean women are sold to impoverished Chinese men living in poor conditions. Because they are not living in China legally and the men who bought them are afraid they may be returned to North Korea if caught, these women are often hidden completely from public view. They are especially susceptible to the Coronavirus because they do not receive medical care or protection. That is why Voice of the Martyrs Korea also sent masks, medicine, and other supplies to the women in the area, including audio Bibles. Food and masks and medicine are helpful for their health, but only the word of God can bring them hope. We know the North Korean sex-trafficked women really appreciate the food and supplies we are sending, but it is always the audio Bibles that they thank us for specifically.

Voice of the Martyrs Korea is raising funds to purchase food and other supplies to reach additional North Korean sex-trafficked women in Northeast China. 13 families is just a drop in the bucket. We need to do more, as quickly as possible. Last time we sent aid, we were able to get it in the day before deliveries were stopped. We need to pray that deliveries remain possible in this area, and that we can reach as many of these North Korean sex-trafficked women as possible, providing what is needed for their physical and spiritual health.

150 USD can provide the basic staples needed for one of these families to feed itself for the next seven months.

Whatever funds are raised in this emergency appeal, we will use to provide food, care items, and Christian discipleship resources for the North Korean sex-trafficked women in Northeast China and their families.

VOMK supporters can make a donation to support these North Korean sex-trafficked women. Please be sure to indicate “COVID” on your donation. We are hoping to have all of the donations for this emergency project in hand by May 31.

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