korean unification studies

A report from the Christian Newswire claims that the ‘native citizens working for a foreign intelligence service’ that were exposed in an unprecedented press conference by a DPRK security organization last September were in fact North Korean Christians.

As noted in an earlier post, North Korean spokesperson Li Su Gil announced the arrests at a press conference in Pyongyang on 5 September which was relayed internationally via Xinhua. Xinhua reported that at the press conference ‘camera footage appeared to show captured spy equipment, including a fake rock containing a satellite communications gadget, a bug in a flowerpot and all kinds of espionage cameras’.

According to Christian Newswire those arrested were actually North Korean Christians attempting to establish a capitalist venture, a photography portrait studio. The material from the studio was paraded as spy equipment at the 5 September press conference.

Christian Newswire’s source is Voice of the Martyrs (VOM), a ministry that preaches in regions where people are persecuted for their faith. According to the Christian Newswire:

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. VOM has conducted other projects to help North Korean Christians but cannot discuss details publicly to protect the safety of VOM workers and contacts inside North Korea.

VOM identifies nine North Korean Christians, which they claim have disappeared. They believe the nine were arrested and quite possibly executed by government authorities.