{"id":26792,"date":"2020-06-13T10:32:38","date_gmt":"2020-06-13T01:32:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/?p=26792"},"modified":"2020-06-13T13:27:04","modified_gmt":"2020-06-13T04:27:04","slug":"vomk-report-105","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/2020\/06\/13\/vomk-report-105\/","title":{"rendered":"VOICE OF THE MARTYRS KOREA STATEMENT RE THE ANNOUNCEMENTS BY GYEONGGI PROVINCE AUTHORITIES CRIMINALIZING BALLOON LAUNCHING ACTIVITY"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”26789″ img_size=”full”][vc_custom_heading text=”From the Rev. Dr. Eric Foley, CEO and Co-Founder, Voice of the Martyrs Korea” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:1.2em|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” el_class=”headline”][vc_column_text]Over the past 15 years,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the respectful cooperation between Voice of the Martyrs Korea<\/span><\/span>\u00a0and Korean police, military, and intelligence services has served as a<\/span><\/span>n\u00a0<\/span><\/span>admirable\u00a0<\/span><\/span>international\u00a0<\/span><\/span>model for how\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>freedom<\/span><\/span>s<\/span><\/span>\u00a0of speech and religion<\/span><\/span>,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>protection of property and public safety,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>and\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>advancement of political and economic peace and prosperity<\/span><\/span>\u00a0can\u00a0<\/span><\/span>all be safeguarded and\u00a0<\/span><\/span>jointly<\/span><\/span>\u00a0fostered<\/span><\/span>, even\u00a0<\/span><\/span>during\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>most dangerous\u00a0<\/span><\/span>moments of inter-Korean<\/span><\/span>\u00a0tension and conflict<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]We are disappointed that\u00a0<\/span><\/span>authorities\u00a0<\/span><\/span>have chosen to\u00a0<\/span><\/span>suddenly\u00a0<\/span><\/span>and unilaterally\u00a0<\/span><\/span>disregard this\u00a0<\/span><\/span>proven\u00a0<\/span><\/span>model of<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>effective cooperation<\/span><\/span>. We are grieved that they have\u00a0<\/span><\/span>criminalize<\/span><\/span>d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>even the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>most\u00a0<\/span><\/span>responsible\u00a0<\/span><\/span>and cooperative\u00a0<\/span><\/span>exercise of\u00a0<\/span><\/span>long-<\/span><\/span>cherished\u00a0<\/span><\/span>rights<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>as a<\/span><\/span>n<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>inherent,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>imminent\u00a0<\/span><\/span>threat\u00a0<\/span><\/span>to peace and prosperity<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]We\u00a0<\/span><\/span>call on\u00a0<\/span><\/span>all Korean authorities<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>to return to their<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>long-demonstrated\u00a0<\/span><\/span>commitment to\u00a0<\/span><\/span>cooperative<\/span><\/span>, responsible,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0respectful\u00a0<\/span><\/span>dialogue<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>among all stakeholders<\/span><\/span>\u2014<\/span><\/span>listening not\u00a0<\/span><\/span>only\u00a0<\/span><\/span>to state\u00a0<\/span><\/span>actors but\u00a0<\/span><\/span>also\u00a0<\/span><\/span>NGOs and citizens<\/span><\/span>\u00a0who have acted responsibly for many years.\u00a0 We believe this\u00a0<\/span><\/span>remains the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>only truly\u00a0<\/span><\/span>safe<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>path forward.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Cooperative, respectful preservation of the full range of rights\u00a0<\/span><\/span>has served us all well\u00a0<\/span><\/span>over the past 15 years<\/span><\/span>, even during the times of greatest national danger<\/span><\/span>. It has\u00a0<\/span><\/span>ensur<\/span><\/span>ed<\/span><\/span>\u00a0that we can\u00a0<\/span><\/span>all\u00a0<\/span><\/span>make progress in\u00a0<\/span><\/span>all of<\/span><\/span>\u00a0the areas of importance to all of us<\/span><\/span>, even in the midst of the most threatening rhetoric and actions.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> <\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Our\u00a0<\/span><\/span>commitment at Voice of the Martyrs Korea\u00a0<\/span><\/span>remains\u00a0<\/span><\/span>unchanged<\/span><\/span>:\u00a0<\/span><\/span>We will continue to\u00a0<\/span><\/span>support all Korean Christians<\/span><\/span>, both North and South,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>as they follow Christ<\/span><\/span>. This is what\u00a0<\/span><\/span>our suffering\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Christian\u00a0<\/span><\/span>brothers and sisters in North Korea request<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span><\/span>it is what\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Christ\u00a0<\/span><\/span>commands<\/span><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]There are times when governments criminalize the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>actions<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>we as\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Christians are called to undertake.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>I<\/span><\/span>n such times, w<\/span><\/span>e\u00a0<\/span><\/span>remain\u00a0<\/span><\/span>subject to the governing authorities.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>This means that we will continue to do what God calls us to do,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>and\u00a0<\/span><\/span>we will willingly and joyfully suffer whatever penalty the authorities lay upon us\u00a0<\/span><\/span>as the price\u00a0<\/span><\/span>for that faithfulness.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Additional information:<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]VOM Korea has\u00a0<\/span><\/span>continuously\u00a0<\/span><\/span>pioneered\u00a0<\/span><\/span>numerous<\/span><\/span>\u00a0innovations to make balloon launches safe<\/span><\/span>\u00a0for all Koreans<\/span><\/span>\u00a0North and South<\/span><\/span>, including<\/span><\/span>:<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]\u2022 the use exclusively of <\/span>non-flammable\u00a0<\/span>helium\u00a0<\/span>gas<\/span>;<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022 predictive computer modeling and GPS tracking, to ensure that balloons <\/span>are only launched when it is certain \u2022 they will reach their intended destinations in North <\/span>Korea;<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022 high-altitude balloons, which cross into North Korea well above the range of ground <\/span>artillery;<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022 environmentally-friendly<\/span>\u00a0materials\u00a0<\/span>and clean-up practices; and, most of all,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022 a <\/span>cooperative arrangement with all enforcement authorities to ensure that\u00a0<\/span>the goals of all stakeholders\u00a0<\/span>may be achieved as far as possible<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We have launched without\u00a0<\/span>negative impact to life or property during even\u00a0<\/span>far more\u00a0<\/span>contentious periods in North\/South relations.\u00a0<\/span>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\u00a0<\/span>the North Korean Human Rights Database.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We\u00a0<\/span>have\u00a0<\/span>never\u00a0<\/span>at any time sent<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>any form of\u00a0<\/span>political message or\u00a0<\/span>propaganda but\u00a0<\/span>only the\u00a0<\/span>Chos<\/span>u<\/span>n<\/span>\u00a0Bibles published by the North Korean government and protected under the North Korean\u00a0<\/span>constitution<\/span>\u2019s freedom of religion for all North Korean citizens<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>All of<\/span>\u00a0our North Korean ministry projects are undertaken at the request and advice of underground North Korean Christians.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][\/vc_section]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"[vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”26789″ img_size=”full”][vc_custom_heading text=”From the Rev. Dr. Eric Foley, CEO and Co-Founder, Voice of the Martyrs Korea” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:1.2em|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” el_class=”headline”][vc_column_text]Over the past 15 years,\u00a0the respectful cooperation between Voice of the …","protected":false},"author":659,"featured_media":26797,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"give_campaign_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[235,140],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-26792","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-special-column","category-vomk-report"],"translation":{"provider":"WPGlobus","version":"3.0.2","language":"en","enabled_languages":["ko","en","zh","ru"],"languages":{"ko":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"en":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"zh":{"title":false,"content":false,"excerpt":false},"ru":{"title":false,"content":false,"excerpt":false}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26792","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/659"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26792"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26792\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26797"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26792"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26792"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26792"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}