North Korea says keep your balloons, or else

By September 3, 2015
(Screen capture courtesy Voice of the Martyrs)

(Screen capture courtesy Voice of the Martyrs)

North Korea (MNN/VOM) — North Korea is sick of balloons.

These are not the kinds that you find at parties, but they’re the sturdy kinds, built for tracking weather and able to carry weight…and they’re used by Voice of the Martyrs to reach North Korea with a message.

VOM USA spokesman Todd Nettleton explains, ”They clearly are delivering the Gospel into North Korea. They clearly are doing it very effectively because otherwise, the North Koreans wouldn’t take this step of publicly criticizing them.” (Click here to watch a video)

(Photo courtesy Voice of the Martyrs)

(Photo courtesy Voice of the Martyrs)

Nettleton is referring to a statement released by North Korea’s state media (KCNA). “They threatened all kinds of things. They’re going to ‘turn South Korea into a sea of fire’ if these things happen. I actually really think of it as a badge of honor for our partner ministry, our sister office in South Korea that handles these balloon launches.”

At the same time, North Korea has also been denying the effectiveness, but by issuing a statement, “Obviously, it’s working,” says Nettleton. “We’ve gotten their attention. We know from GPS tracking that the Bibles, the leaflets, the balloons are going into North Korea. We can tell quite a bit about the locations, and their release kind of confirmed some of what we already knew.”

VOM’s sister mission in South Korea posted some details from the KCNA statement in their blog:

[Translation note: When NK uses the term “Riff-raffs,” they are typically referring to North Korean defectors–in this case, our Underground University and Underground Technology students who are proud members of our organization and balloon launch ministry.]

 [SIC] Pyongyang, August 14 (KCNA) – The south Korean puppet forces have reached an extreme phase in their leaflet-scattering operations against the DPRK.

Riff-raffs affiliated to the Voice of Martyr, a puppet die-hard conservative organization in south Korea, scattered by use of balloons anti-DPRK leaflets over areas in the DPRK from the area of Hapsu-ri in Jung-myon of Ryonchon County, Kyonggi Province on July 24.

Similar operations were conducted by other south Korean die-hard conservative bodies in the area of Aegibong, Jogang-ri, Wolgot-myon in Kimpho City, Kyonggi Province on July 27 and in the area of Rodongdangsa, Jung-ri, Cholwon County of south Korean Kangwon Province on July 31.

Entering August, the puppet forces have got zealous in scattering anti-DPRK leaflets and various kinds of undesirable e-media as evidenced by their scattering operations on August 5, 6 and 7. They conducted 3 to 5 operations in June and 9 operations in July.

They are getting trickier in fixing time and locations for their scattering operations against the DPRK.

In view of this critical situation, the frontline combined units of the Korean People’s Army released an open statement on August 14.

What is more serious is that the die-hard conservative bodies have conducted anti-DPRK leaflet-scattering operations with the tacit connivance of the south Korean regime and military, the statement said, and went on:

The south Korean puppet joint chiefs of staff named the anti-DPRK leaflet scattering operations of the non-governmental reactionary organizations “balloon operations”, gave an “order” to all frontline guard units and artillery units to “tighten vigilance against the north” and “get ready to open fire.”

The operations for massively scattering anti-DPRK leaflets and undesirable e-media that have spilt over to the whole area along the military demarcation line are an open declaration of a war against the DPRK.

If one side mobilizes forces while conducting a psychological warfare against its opponent, that just leads to a total war.

Now that such large-scale joint military drills as Ulji Freedom Guardian are close at hand, the Park Geun Hye group has launched such a large-scale psychological warfare as leaflet-scattering operations. This clearly proves that the north-south relations have been plunged into the state of a war, in actuality.

The puppet forces should not forget even a moment that the whole of south Korea might turn into a sea of fire due to the foolhardy leaflet scattering operations.

There is a limit to the patience of the frontline soldiers of the KPA.

(Map courtesy Voice of the Martyrs)

(Map courtesy Voice of the Martyrs)

Noted: Strong language from the DPRK about the balloons. “The operations for massively scattering anti-DPRK leaflets and undesirable e-media that have spilt over to the whole area along the military demarcation line are an open declaration of a war against the DPRK.”

But really, an act of war? Nettleton responds, “The North Korean government has a very vested interest in keeping the Gospel out because if Jesus Christ is Lord, if Jesus Christ is the Savior, then, by definition, Kim Jong-un is not the Savior.”

Since the North Korean government is built on the system of deifying the leaders, Christianity and the Gospel message are a direct threat to their government. However, he acknowledges, I would say there IS a war that is going on in North Korea, but it is a spiritual war.”

Because it is a spiritual war, anyone can be on the frontlines. Nettleton explains that “People not even close to North Korea can be a part of it. They can suit up and be a part of the battle, and they can do that through their prayers.” Specifically, since they’re not stopping the balloons, pray for good weather to carry the materials over the border into North Korea. “We can pray for favor with the South Korean government to allow the launches to go forward. Maybe most significantly, we want to pray for the people who will pick up these leaflets and Bibles, that they will have a receptive heart.”

 

9 Comments

  • John Chapman says:

    I accept the premise of what it is you’re trying to do, but there are much better ways to do it than by sending bibles and the word of ‘Jesus Christ’ into North Korea. These people need solid information about the outside world, not a bunch of half-hearted religious propaganda – they have enough of that already.

  • Mary Ferris says:

    Praise God! The enemy (Satan) is getting nervous! A good sign!

  • N. Wall says:

    Mr. Chapman,
    What better way is there to spread the Gospel into NK than sending Bibles? THAT is their premise. They’re not a for-profit company looking for new customers. And I wouldn’t call it half-hearted; I think this group is all in. If you feel the people of NK need solid information about the outside world, maybe you can start your own organization and do just that.

  • Son, you say that there are better ways, so what organization would you suggest as an alternative, or do you mean to say that the “better way” is to suborn the resources of Voice of the Martyrs to achieve a goal outside of the one proposed in their mission statement? Could you put forward an achievement of your own or non-theistic organization as an example, or was your comment merely intended to solicit an “awwww snap!” response, in which case you neglected to provide the article’s author with information for the nearest burn unit — not that he’d need it.

  • Tami Carter says:

    Praise God!! I am so overjoyed to hear that the Word of our Savior is getting into the hands of our precious soon-to- be brothers & sisters in NK. May our wonderful omniscient God see to it that those who He has called will find these balloons & rejoice at the Words of life they read. All Glory to Our Heavenly Father!!

  • Joe L Suttie says:

    Because He Loves

    “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

    The Frontline Soldiers Of The KPA

    “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

    And The Peoples Of The Democratic People’s Republic Of Korea

    “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

    ~

    May God Bless The Dear Peoples Of The DPRK
    And Draw Them To The LORD Jesus
    And Give Them HIS Peace

    “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27

    In Jesus’ Holy Name
    Amen

    Love, Joe

  • Joe L Suttie says:

    Beloved, Don’t Be Silly

    “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

    For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

    For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

    For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.” Matthew 16:24-28

    Love, Joe

  • Ekemezie Joe says:

    The Bible said that the kingdom of God marcheth forward and the gates of hell cannot prevail against her. I declare by the authority in the name of Jesus Christ, let every demonic prince in that nation be subdued, Amen.

  • Kelvin says:

    Keep the balloons flying over NK!

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