{"id":44205,"date":"2022-10-18T14:00:52","date_gmt":"2022-10-18T05:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/?p=44205"},"modified":"2022-10-18T11:30:43","modified_gmt":"2022-10-18T02:30:43","slug":"vomk-report-225","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/2022\/10\/18\/vomk-report-225\/","title":{"rendered":"NORTH KOREAN WORKERS: \u201cKIM JONG UN COULD NOT PROTECT US BUT ONLY IN GOD WE TRUST\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”44237″ img_size=”full”][vc_custom_heading text=”North Korean workers trapped in work assignments abroad due to COVID were forced to choose between placing their trust in God or the North Korean government. According to Voice of the Martyrs Korea Representative Dr. Hyun Sook Foley, God won. ” 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]Voice of the Martyrs Korea, an NGO which serves persecuted Christians worldwide<\/span>, released letters it received <\/span>this week <\/span>from North Koreans working abroad who received <\/span>audio Bibles <\/span>during the COVID pandemic <\/span>through the NGO<\/span>\u2019s distribution efforts<\/span>.<\/span> According to Representative Foley, the <\/span>five <\/span>letters <\/span>reveal workers <\/span>eagerly <\/span>turning <\/span>to God after being <\/span>disillusioned by the lack of <\/span>aid <\/span>they received <\/span>from the North Korean government and local authorities <\/span>during the pandemic<\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201cThe <\/span>letters come from workers in different locations over the past few <\/span>months,<\/span> but <\/span>all exhibit the same pattern<\/span>,\u201d says Representative Foley. \u201c<\/span>NK w<\/span>orkers saw other <\/span>NK <\/span>workers get infected with COVID<\/span>-like symptoms<\/span>; their NK government minders did not take them to the hospital <\/span>or cover their medical costs <\/span>but instead required them to use their own earnings <\/span>if they wanted medical care; the <\/span>NK <\/span>workers indicated they would rather die than give up the little money they had earned for their families back home; so the<\/span> NK workers decided to put their trust in the God they heard about in the audio Bibles they received from our team.<\/span> They received as a gift from God the medicines and other materials that we provided along with the audio Bibles.<\/span>\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>One worker <\/span>put it like this:<\/span> \u2018<\/span>Kim Jong Un could not protect us but only in God we trust<\/span>.<\/span>\u2019<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Representative Foley quoted a letter from one worker at length to describe the situation of NK workers abroad during the pandemic:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u201cFor the past several months, in our unit, [number withheld for security reasons] comrades have died. It seems their symptoms are just like Covid19. They were all infected with pneumonia-like symptoms but never went to hospital and died in this foreign land. With my eyes open, we could not bear to see their death. We would rather die than going to hospital if we have to spend the whole money that we have earned and saved up for the past year. It is too expensive without insurance. It is such a miserable reality. Therefore, there is nothing these sick people would do besides relying on God and asking Him for mercy. I am praying in my heart for the [X] comrades who died in a beautiful young age. I ask God for no more pain in their life in heaven. In truth, there is no good hospital we could go. We would rather go to back to Chosun and visit NK doctors. There are so many patients but nothing we could do, so that we just keep praying for them. We are distributing audio Bibles in secret to these sick people in hoping that they might receive comfort from the Bible. We believe that seeing and listening to the Words will greatly help them overcome the pain and disease. I also happened to think that it is truly miserable if people die without knowing God.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Representative Foley says that <\/span>Voice of the Martyrs Korea supplies audio and printed North Korean dialect Bibles to North Koreans inside North Korea, as well as to North Korean laborers working abroad and North Korean sex trafficked women in China. <\/span>The Bibles are individually distributed directly to recipients, often as part of small care packages containing other items like masks, medicines, and hygiene items. She says that the distribution is done by underground Christians from North Korea and the other countries where Voice of the Martyrs Korea reaches North Korean<\/span>s<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]According to Representative Foley, Christians doing the distribution became so concerned by the COVID cases they saw among NK workers that they took the <\/span>risky step of bringing in local doctors <\/span>and additional medicines <\/span>to <\/span>aid <\/span>the workers.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>One NK worker <\/span>who received help from us <\/span>described the situation like this,\u201d says Representative Foley<\/span>, quoting from one of the letters:<\/span> \u201c<\/span>In <\/span>[country name removed for security reasons<\/span>]<\/span>, we want to get good treatment, but the NK person in charge of the factory does not give us proper treatment because it is expensive. So, we just pray to God for giving our comrades healing and delivering from pain. This is the only thing we could do. Thankfully, the <\/span>[local VOMK worker<\/span>] <\/span>sent a doctor with medication, so that we are recovering now. We all think that this is from God.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Representative Foley says that while t<\/span>he North Korean government\u2019s <\/span>COVID <\/span>lockdown has prevented many North Korean workers from returning home,<\/span> the<\/span> longer stays have given <\/span>NK <\/span>workers opportunities<\/span> and<\/span> more time to access materials not available to them <\/span>inside North Korea<\/span>.<\/span> She quotes from one NK worker who wrote, <\/span>\u201c<\/span>The holiday is very long but we were not able to leave the factory. But it turned out that it was an opportunity for us to know about God deeply<\/span>.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Representative Foley says that the letters were written <\/span>over the summer months <\/span>and <\/span>were <\/span>received by Voice of the Martyrs Korea this week. <\/span>The letters are shown here, with slight alterations in appearance to ensure the safety of the writers.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”44216″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]For the past several months, in our unit, <\/span><\/span>[number removed for security reasons]<\/span> <\/span>comrades<\/span> have died. It seems their symptoms are just like Covid19. They were all infected with pneumonia-like symptoms but never went to hospital and died in this foreign land. With my eyes open, we could not bear to see their death. <\/span>We would rather die than <\/span>going<\/span> to hospital if we <\/span>have to<\/span> spend <\/span>the whole<\/span> money that we have earned and saved up for the past year. It is too expensive without insurance. It is such a miserable reality. Therefore, there is nothing these sick people would do besides relying on God and asking Him for mercy.<\/span> I am praying in my heart for the <\/span><\/span>[number removed]<\/span><\/span> comrades who died in a beautiful young age. I ask God for no more pain in their life in heaven. In truth, there is no good hospital we could <\/span>go<\/span>. We would rather go to back to Chosun and visit NK doctors. There are so many patients but nothing we could do, <\/span>so that<\/span> we just keep praying for them. <\/span>We are distributing audio Bibles in secret to these sick people in hoping that they might receive comfort from the Bible. We believe that seeing and listening to the Words will greatly help them overcome <\/span>the pain<\/span> and disease<\/span>. I also happened to think that it is truly miserable if people die without knowing God.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/em>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”44219″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_single_image image=”44222″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]My hometown is not far away from here, but it feels so far away. As I spent the Chus<\/span>e<\/span>ok holiday in this foreign land where I have no freedom, I miss the freedom-less hometown where I could at least travel in my town. I just spent the holiday here in the factory and experi<\/span>en<\/span>cing the <\/span>entertainment<\/span> party which was not fun at all. I was sad during the holiday as I was thinking about my parents and brothers at hometown, but as seeing and list<\/span>e<\/span>ning to the Bible in secret, I got to think a lot. It was sad, but not <\/span>really sad<\/span>, I now think. <\/span>I believe that there must be a reason why God is giving me this hardship. After having faith, I have learn<\/span>e<\/span>d how to overcome pain and sadness with joy.<\/span> I give thanks to God <\/span>through whom I <\/span>realize<\/span>d<\/span> this<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/em>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”44225″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_single_image image=”44228″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]Greetings, <\/span>How<\/span> are you doing? We are well here. We have several comrades who recovered from the Covid19 in our factory. We worried <\/span>much<\/span> about them who kept coughing and feeling pain in their chest. Comrade A and B are not able to work well because of their sickness. <\/span>In <\/span><\/span>[country name removed for security reasons]<\/span><\/span>, we want to get good treatment, but the NK person in charge of the factory does not give us proper treatment because it is expensive. So, we just pray to God for giving our comrades healing and delivering from pain. This is the only thing we could do. Thankfully, the <\/span><\/span>[country name removed for security reasons]<\/span><\/span> man sent a doctor with medication, so that we are recovering now. We all think that this is from God. We are truly thankful to God. Kim Jong<\/span> U<\/span>n could not protect us but only in God we trust. We are thankful with all our hearts to give us this opportunity<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/em>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”44231″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]Greetings, <\/span>I am writing this letter with great fear. I just received Jesus God. I only knew Kim Il<\/span> S<\/span>ung, Kim Jong<\/span> I<\/span>l and Kim Jong<\/span> U<\/span>n. I thought they <\/span>are<\/span> the only ones in this world. My head is full of confusion now but the more I hear the Bible, the more I am drawn to. There is nothing I could do besides praying to God in this difficult season.<\/span> Thank you for the delicious food and medication that you sent to us.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/em>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”44234″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]During Chuseok, with my friends, we truly enjoyed the <\/span>SK<\/span> ram<\/span>en<\/span> that the <\/span><\/span>[country name removed]<\/span><\/span> man sent to us. Even though I am away from my <\/span>families<\/span> and parents in this foreign land during Chuseok, with the food and my comrades, it was joyful. Especially, the ramen that God sent to us was filled with God’s love. <\/span>The holiday is very long but we were not able to leave the factory. But it turned out that it was an opportunity for us to know about God deeply<\/span>. I was not expecting to know God in this foreign land. His Being is too precious to us, and our hearts are trembling at Him. I pray for my parents and friends in<\/span> <\/span>[location removed for security reasons]<\/span><\/span> and for myself. I feel no lonelier and in pain because I now know that God hear<\/span>s<\/span> our prayer<\/span>s<\/span> and watch<\/span>es<\/span> us whenever and wherever we are through the power of prayer. We are also thankful for you who pray for us from far away.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/em>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Representative Foley says that for the safety of its workers and the Bible recipients, Voice of the Martyrs Korea no longer releases the specific quantity of Bibles distributed each year, or the media or methods by which they are distributed. \u201c<\/span>Generally,<\/span> we distribute 40,000 to 50,000 North Korean dialect Bibles a year in print and electronic formats to North Korean citizens outside of South Korea,<\/span> though distribution has increased significantly during the pandemic as North Koreans seek the kind of hope and stability that are only found in Christ,<\/span>\u201d she says. She notes that the Bible is also read daily on Voice of the Martyrs Korea\u2019s five shortwave and AM radio broadcasts.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”44210″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”An NK worker in a foreign country.” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230f0f0f|line_height:1.45em” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Individuals or churches interested in supporting Voice of the Martyrs Korea\u2019s North Korea ministry can make a donation via website or wire transfer to:\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\uad6d\ubbfc\uc740\ud589<\/span> (KB Bank) 463501-01-243303<\/span>\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\uc608\uae08\uc8fc<\/span> (Account Holder): (<\/span>\uc0ac<\/span>)<\/span>\uc21c\uad50\uc790\uc758\uc18c\ub9ac\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Please include the phrase \u201cNK Ministry\u201d with the donation.<\/span>\u202f<\/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=”44237″ img_size=”full”][vc_custom_heading text=”North Korean workers trapped in work assignments abroad due to COVID were forced to choose between placing their trust in God or the North Korean government. According …","protected":false},"author":659,"featured_media":44206,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"give_campaign_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[857,235,869,140],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-44205","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-russian-special","category-special-column","category-china-special","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":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"ru":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44205","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=44205"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44205\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/44206"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44205"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44205"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44205"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}