Faith

North Korea Frees U.S. Man Accused of Spreading Christianity

North Korea Frees U.S. Man Accused of Spreading Christianity

AP

BEIJING (AP) — North Korea freed an American it held for a half year for reportedly proselytizing, handing him Saturday to a U.S. envoy who said Washington had not promised to provide aid in exchange for the man’s release.

The envoy, Robert King, accompanied Eddie Jun on a flight from the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, and told reporters after arriving in Beijing that Jun would be reunited with his family in the United States “within a day or two.”

Jun did not appear with King before reporters in Beijing. Jun, dressed in a dark jacket, appeared in good spirits, smiling with King as they boarded the plane in Pyongyang, according to footage from Associated Press Television News. After Beijing, Jun flew to Seoul where he told reporters he would have a medical checkup, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported.

Jun, a Korean-American from California who traveled to North Korea several times and had business interests there, was arrested in November, with the North’s official Korean Central News Agency, or KCNA, saying he was accused of committing a serious crime. Pyongyang didn’t provide details, but South Korean press reports say Jun was accused of spreading Christianity.

King, the U.S. envoy for North Korean human rights, traveled to Pyongyang this week with specialists to assess the severity of the latest of North Korea’s chronic food shortages. He said he spent 3 1/2 days in talks with North Korean Foreign Ministry officials. He did not specify how much time was spent discussing Jun but tried to quash any speculation that the U.S. had offered aid to obtain his freedom.

“We did not negotiate or agree to any provision of food assistance,” King told reporters.

The U.N. World Food Program made a $200 million appeal last month, saying more than 6 million of North Korea’s 23 million people urgently needed food aid. Some critics question if the need is that dire and whether the North would distribute outside aid fairly.

King said he would report his findings back to Washington.

KCNA announced Friday that Jun would be released after King “expressed regret at the incident on behalf of the U.S. government” and assured it would try to prevent a recurrence.

In Washington, State Department spokesman Mark Toner said Friday that he could not confirm whether King had expressed regret. “We welcome their decision. It’s certainly a positive step,” Toner told a news conference.

Toner said the release would have no bearing on the U.S. decision on whether to provide food aid and on restarting dialogue with the North. On engaging North Korea, Toner said the U.S. was still looking for “concrete actions” in other areas and an improvement in the North’s relations with South Korea.

The United States, which fought on South Korea’s side during the 1950-53 Korean War, doesn’t have diplomatic staff based in North Korea. Negotiations on establishing relations have snagged amid North Korea’s efforts to develop nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles and its provocations toward South Korea.

In recent years, North Korea has detained several Americans, one of them for trying to proselytize, and they were often freed only after high-profile negotiations. North Korea has said that former President Jimmy Carter asked for Jun’s pardon during a visit last month.

North Korea officially guarantees freedom of religion but often cracks down on Christians, who are seen as a Western-influenced threat. The distribution of Bibles and secret prayer services can mean banishment to a labor camp or execution, defectors have said.

___

Associated Press writers Foster Klug in Seoul, South Korea, and Matthew Pennington in Washington contributed to this report.

Comments (65)

1 2
  • ED4237
    Posted on May 28, 2011 at 4:52pm

    There are no human rights in NorthKorea might want to get used to that idea because if the progressives get their way we will one day be just like NorthKorea.

    Report Post »  
  • bkfirvine
    Posted on May 28, 2011 at 4:41pm

    God bless Eddie Jun for spreading the gospel.

    Report Post » bkfirvine  
  • bkfirvine
    Posted on May 28, 2011 at 4:39pm

    North Korea released Eddie Jun to us because we threatened to give them Larry Flynt.

    Report Post » bkfirvine  
  • Hereigns7
    Posted on May 28, 2011 at 4:13pm

    What‘s missing in this story is how many life’s did he touch with the transforming gospel of Jesus Christ?Let’s bow our knee now and pray for those who have heard the good news that they will now be strong and let their light shine forth in a very dark world. Let’s welcome back Eddie Jun as a hero for standing for truth and righteousness. Let him be an example of how we Christians should act in this country. That is, no person or establishment should keep us from proclaiming the message of Christ. Posted by Rev. Daniel W. Blair http://www.revelation-truth.org

    Report Post » Hereigns7  
  • Black Manta
    Posted on May 28, 2011 at 3:37pm

    People fail to realize the world is satan’s kingdom..and he’s just building it in hopes of defeating God..Christianity is attacked all the time cause satan can not stand up to the truth..he has the lost souls doing his work for him…Jesus tells us they will hate you for my names sake, they persecuted the Master so why won’t they persecute you…persecutetion in America ha not hit here yet..just pray we are as strong as our brothers and sisters in Christ that are going through these’s hard times across the world…When I wake up how I start my day is Thank you Lord…God Bless…

    Report Post » Black Manta  
  • BurntHills
    Posted on May 28, 2011 at 2:48pm

    at some point Christian Whites the world over will have to realize we are already an established Religion and the rest of the world wants us dead.
    Islam guarantees a paradise in their heaven if they are ”martyred” (as in perversely blow themselves up) , not Christianity. we go to Heaven based on our lives, not our single manner of deaths.
    we can just no longer understand someone’s inner need to try to preach to the uncivilized filthy savages who do not want to hear it and would rather kill you because of it.

    Report Post » BurntHills  
    • Ghostrider
      Posted on May 29, 2011 at 6:54am

      Mr. Burnthills, we go to the savages of the world to give them the opportunity of life, because Jesus died for them as well

      Report Post »  
  • Steelhead
    Posted on May 28, 2011 at 1:52pm

    thank you President Carter

    Report Post » Steelhead  
  • GrimReaperxx
    Posted on May 28, 2011 at 1:24pm

    The real question is how much did it cost us to get him released.

    2009, Clinton went to get the release of Laura Ling and Euna Lee, both reporters for California-based Current TV that were pursuing stories on the N Korea-China border.

    2010 , Jimmy Carter secured the release of Aijalon Gomes, a supposed teacher, that was imprisoned and sentenced to eight years’ hard labor for crossing into the North from China on Jan. 25 2010 for unknown reasons.

    Given the Dear Leader’s method of operation, a reasonable person has to assume that there were significant bribes and or concessions made to the dictator for life.

    Question How much did it cost us? In the case of the reporters, if you want to play your game and take that kind of risk..just like hiking on the Iranian border, you bought that sandwich and need to eat it yourself.

    Report Post » GrimReaperxx  
    • BOMUSTGO
      Posted on May 28, 2011 at 1:38pm

      It only cost two sacks of rice,one barrel of fishheads and a quart of soy sauce.

      Report Post » BOMUSTGO  
  • BOMUSTGO
    Posted on May 28, 2011 at 1:17pm

    @ PUBLIUSSPENCILMAN
    “North Korea has said that former President Jimmy Carter asked for Jun’s pardon during a visit last month.”

    I bet you goofballs won’t even give him credit for the assist!
    _________________________________________________
    Little Jimmy had nothing to do with it! The North Koreans couldn’t affford to feed the man in prison anymore!

    Report Post » BOMUSTGO  
    • GrimReaperxx
      Posted on May 28, 2011 at 1:28pm

      Like going to N Korea handing off a huge bribe and begging to the Dear Leader on bended knee is some sort of international policy success. Carter was just a bag man, that the Dear Leader wanted there for all the world and North Koreans to see. How he can humble various Presidents that come to him for his favors, and get large payoffs at the same time.

      It is more of a disgrace.

      Report Post » GrimReaperxx  
  • fragglerk
    Posted on May 28, 2011 at 1:02pm

    Let the attacks come. The last laugh will come when each one of us leave this earth. To put it “mildly”; we’re in eternity longer than we are alive on this rock. People love to defy their moral character, logic, reason and free-will for the good. I don’t care what others believe or not. I’m not the one who will judge at the end. For all the non believers, “ stay ignorant my friends”. All attacks do end with time.

    Report Post »  
  • Blazeanswerman
    Posted on May 28, 2011 at 12:35pm

    If there is no God than why is every government so afraid of Christianity? Because they know that God does exist.

    Report Post » Blazeanswerman  
  • trooper
    Posted on May 28, 2011 at 12:20pm

    If they jail a Christian for trying to spread the words of Christ, I would hope they would shoot anyone trying to spead the words of islam and thier pediophile allah, or what ever his name it, I rather think of of islime as a death cult.

    Report Post »  
  • kickagrandma
    Posted on May 28, 2011 at 11:55am

    We can surely know that he touched more lives than we will know about on this earth. Be good to meet our brothers and sisters in CHRIST when we get HOME and to hear them say, “I was one you prayed for even though you didn’t know my name.”

    It will also be good to hear, “I prayed you through. Good to see you HOME!”

    Report Post »  
  • integrican
    Posted on May 28, 2011 at 11:39am

    I don’t know,………………….that guy looks like a spy to me!!! LOL ; )

    Report Post » integrican  
  • compatriotshonor
    Posted on May 28, 2011 at 11:16am

    One stupip move from north korea in the near future, my money is on japan.

    Report Post »  
  • Thevoice
    Posted on May 28, 2011 at 11:07am

    In terms of the poor and starving ..What is the difference between North Korea and Detroit …Under the Progressive Marxists ..Watch…

    Report Post » Thevoice  
    • RLTW
      Posted on May 28, 2011 at 11:30am

      NK makes their poor and starving work while they starve to death, while America’s poor are kept in a constant state of poverty and ignorance in order to control them.

      Report Post »  
  • missy8s
    Posted on May 28, 2011 at 10:35am

    Becoming a survivor of liberal indoctrination requires will and backbone, some have it and some never will…

    “God, grant me the serenity to accept the liberals I cannot change, the courage to change the liberals I can and wisdom to know the difference.”

    ~Friends of John Q.

    The 12 Steps To Recovering From Liberalism:

    1. We admitted we were powerless over our envious and slothful ways and that our lives had become unsustainable through the coercive appropriation of the fruits of others labors.

    2. We came to believe that a power greater than government could restore us to self determination and fiscal sanity.

    3. We made the decision to turn our future and our lives over to the care of our own success and hard work.

    4. We made a searching and moral inventory of ourselves.

    5. We admitted to ourselves and our brothers that our salvation comes from the grace of God and our personal relationship with him.

    6. We came to know that strength in spirit and character are not sustained by the gifts of government or collective reliance upon them.

    7. We humbly asked God our creator to remove our shortcomings and to unshackle our brothers and sisters from slavery of the mind to the promises of the corrupt and powerful.

    8. We made a list of all persons we had harmed through our complicity in wresting their liberty from them and became willing to make amends to them all through our works.

    Report Post » missy8s  
    • missy8s
      Posted on May 28, 2011 at 10:40am

      9. We made direct amends to such people as were enslaved to this progressive disease of interdependent mediocrity wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

      10. We continued to take personal inventory of our lives and when we were wrong promptly admitted it to ourselves before God.

      11. We sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood him, praying only for knowledge of his will for us and to share his word with others still searching in the darkness for the liberty and the power to carry that out.

      12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to other recovering liberals and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

      The first step to liberal recovery is admitting the problem.

      Report Post » missy8s  
    • kickagrandma
      Posted on May 28, 2011 at 11:53am

      @MISSY8S ~~~

      Nicely stated and AMEN!

      Report Post »  
  • starman70
    Posted on May 28, 2011 at 10:27am

    I bet we promised them the moon. How many millions of AMERICAN taxpayer dollars will be squandered on this dictatorship propping up a regime just as murderous as Quadaffi’s loony tune government ever could be.

    Our government sends this abominal regime tons and tons of food all paid for by taxpayer dollars. OUR MONEY! When will Washington ever learn that all this will do is keep the present government of N. Korea in power. The food will be used to feed the government bigwigs and the military. The food will NEVER reach the common people.

    Report Post »  
    • quizibo
      Posted on May 28, 2011 at 10:33am

      Actually the United States or any country other than China and Russia independently sends North Korea aid. The United Nations distributes aid to North Korea.

      Report Post » quizibo  
    • quizibo
      Posted on May 28, 2011 at 10:35am

      *”…China and Russia doesnt Independently send North Korea aid.”

      Report Post » quizibo  
    • kickagrandma
      Posted on May 28, 2011 at 11:57am

      @starman70 ~~~ Let’s hope we promised them moochelle and the noman along with misspivenwaters georgie porgie soritos, vansjonsies, and others. Be a great trade off to get them all together in one place before eternity.

      what a photo op that would be….NOT!

      Report Post »  
  • BOMUSTGO
    Posted on May 28, 2011 at 10:21am

    I have been to South Korea, and it was a thriving place…Look at the differance between North and South Korea! Why are we wanting to go the route of Socialism?

    Report Post » BOMUSTGO  
    • Bushie
      Posted on May 28, 2011 at 10:26am

      Because Barry Soetoro, I mean Barry obama, no I mean Barack obama wants us to.

      Report Post » Bushie  
    • jb.kibs
      Posted on May 28, 2011 at 10:29am

      “We” aren’t wanting that.

      Report Post »  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on May 28, 2011 at 10:29am

      Name any socialist/communist country you would rather live in. Yet, the left thinks it’s nirvana and they are teaching our kids to think it is too.

      Report Post » Gonzo  
  • BOMUSTGO
    Posted on May 28, 2011 at 10:19am

    Add your comments

    Report Post » BOMUSTGO  
  • Bushie
    Posted on May 28, 2011 at 10:18am

    North Korea got it nuke power the same way Iran will…………..us doing nothing to stop them when we had the chance.

    Report Post » Bushie  
    • BOMUSTGO
      Posted on May 28, 2011 at 10:27am

      Japan would not like it if the North Koreans had nukes.Japan is not allowed to attack another nation.They can only defend themselves.They signed a treaty after WW2 saying they can’t use their military to attack again.I think we need to lift this part of the treaty for a few days!

      Report Post » BOMUSTGO  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on May 28, 2011 at 10:48am

      Japan has it’s hands full now. They will tear that treaty up when it suits them though.

      Report Post » Gonzo  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on May 28, 2011 at 10:13am

    Obama will probably approve waterboarding for him when he gets back.

    Report Post » Gonzo  
  • quizibo
    Posted on May 28, 2011 at 10:10am

    Thats not what happened….He illegally and blatantly crossed their border to show their reaction and human rights violations (as if its a secret). How can an American have business ties in North Korea? They dont even allow Coca-Cola in North Korea and they [Coca-Cola] are everywhere, even in Communist China. Another great report done by the bloggers of The Blaze, typically full of holes of information and staunch opinions.

    Report Post » quizibo  
    • coryf076
      Posted on May 28, 2011 at 10:37am

      david brock…is that you?

      Report Post »  
    • twocents
      Posted on May 31, 2011 at 11:40am

      I know this great man and know his business with North Korea. The reporting is correct.

      Report Post »  
  • jb.kibs
    Posted on May 28, 2011 at 10:05am

    North Korea officially guarantees freedom of religion but often cracks down on Christians, who are seen as a Western-influenced threat. The distribution of Bibles and secret prayer services can mean banishment to a labor camp or execution, defectors have said.

    with freedom like that, who needs slavery?

    Report Post »  
  • bullcrapbuster
    Posted on May 28, 2011 at 10:02am

    Christianity is bad for communism.

    Report Post » bullcrapbuster  
    • TexasCommonSense
      Posted on May 28, 2011 at 10:10am

      That‘s why it’s under attack by so many in the US. They’re setting the stage for the future.

      Report Post » TexasCommonSense  
    • coryf076
      Posted on May 28, 2011 at 10:45am

      it’s kinda funny, isn’t it? well, not funny, but sad really. in the US, Christianity is attacked relentlessly by the left, but a far more repressive religion, and way more conservative than Christianity, is islam….and islam is protected by the left, no one can be critical, woman are treated on the same level as animals but NOW and other womens rights group turn a blind eye cuz it doesn’t fit the lefts agenda…kinda all goes back to what Glenn has been talking about with all these groups conspiring together…

      these people make me sick!

      Report Post »  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on May 28, 2011 at 11:27am

      Christianity is indeed the worst news for Communism, which is why the liberals and progressives are needing to redirect it to the ‘collective’ garbage of the administration; or break it down so much that no one wishes to follow it and goes with the state instead.

      I am glad this man both is freed, and was able to endure the time subjugated to the ‘guest system’ of N Korea and hope he grows stronger in the faith for it. Our time for such is coming here in the USA unless the times change, which they do seem to be doing.

      Thank you God for delivering one of your family back to his home and family safely.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on May 28, 2011 at 11:36am

      @CoryFo76:

      It is sad indeed that we are losing so much of our Christian roots and values for the admin to protect those who seek to destroy or transform the country into an nightmare made reality; in that part I mean from BOTH religious and secular extremists and radicals that they are protecting and allied with across the board.

      @Grandmaof5 (when you read this)

      Morning, hope all is good today with you. I have two new pictures in my gallery ANGELINA and one sketch of SENTINAL (a lighthouse). Please click my screename and it will take you right to them, let me know if you would what you think of them.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • PubliusPencilman
      Posted on May 28, 2011 at 12:06pm

      “North Korea has said that former President Jimmy Carter asked for Jun’s pardon during a visit last month.”

      I bet you goofballs won’t even give him credit for the assist!

      Report Post »  
    • NeoFan
      Posted on May 28, 2011 at 12:32pm

      In North Korea the population is starving. They dig and fill mass graves everyday. This is Utopia for the democrats and the sorostards. Soon after the reelection of their version of God in this country we will begin to see the same things here. And yet these same brainless cromags will continue to worship the wonderchild god president as if he is making things better. When evil and stupidity meet its the second most powerful force in the universe.

      Report Post »  
    • theonefromabove
      Posted on May 28, 2011 at 1:04pm

      Glad to see he is safe.

      http://politicalbowl.com – Political Videos

      Report Post »  
    • GONESURFING
      Posted on May 28, 2011 at 2:32pm

      North Korea, a basket case of a country, fights against God. It’s no wonder they are in such trouble. Communism really sucks.

      Report Post » GONESURFING  
    • marybethelizabeth
      Posted on May 28, 2011 at 4:13pm

      Let me tell you something.
      South Korea is the source of the charge that North Korea arrested this man for spreading the Gospel.They are not a reliable source. They do not have access to the North Korean legal system.
      It’s much more likely Mr. Jun was arrested for espionage.

      Report Post » marybethelizabeth  
    • insight
      Posted on May 28, 2011 at 4:14pm

      North Korea wouldn’t be such a mess if it wasn’t for all that free market capitalism, uh, oh wait, never mind.
      We should have traded for Jun for Sean Penn.

      Report Post »  
    • rrjenn
      Posted on May 28, 2011 at 4:24pm

      It isn’t communism that is so incompatible with Christianity. It’s totalitarianism that fears it. Communism isn’t compatible with democracy because humanity, not unlike all other life forms, is very greedy, and communism can never feed that greed like capitalism can. Don’t get me wrong, I’m as greedy as they get, but I strongly think Christ would have been a communist, if he ever existed at all.

      Report Post »  
    • Chief Moolah Eggplant
      Posted on May 28, 2011 at 4:42pm

      The first Christians and Apostles were “communists” (Acts 2:44).

      Report Post »  
    • The Third Archon
      Posted on May 28, 2011 at 5:59pm

      I wouldn‘t exactly call what’s going on in North Korea communism–Karl Marx would certainly be sorely disappointed in Kim. It’s more a theocracy, but where Kim has named himself God; obviously, this conflicts with Christianity (although don’t feel special Christians–he does this to every religion, with the possible exception of Buddhism which he barely tolerates).

      Report Post » The Third Archon  
    • illuminoddy
      Posted on May 28, 2011 at 9:00pm

      thats not communism, communism is an economic system only, not a political one

      N Koreas problem is not communism, by any definition of the word

      their problem is a lunatic dicator nutcase megalomaniac regime, and nothing more

      Report Post » illuminoddy  
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