CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY ARRESTED IN NORTH-KOREA...

North Korea has arrested a 75-year-old Australian man
working as a Christian missionary in Pyongyang, according to
his family.
The
family said in a press release that John Short was on his
second trip to North Korea and was in possession of religious
materials that had been translated into Korean.
He is the second Christian missionary being held by the North,
the other is Kenneth Bae, a South Korean with US citizenship.
Karen Short, John’s wife, told Reuters news agency on
Wednesday: “It’s a bit traumatic, it’s been 48 hours and my
husband is still there. I’m not upset, we’re Christian
missionaries and we have tremendous support for what we
do.”

The family’s press release also reported the tour company as
saying that North Korean officials had refused to take their
calls. Pyongyang has not confirmed Short’s detention.
The Australian government, which does not have diplomatic
relations with North Korea, is using its consulate in Seoul and
the Swedish embassy in Pyongyang to handle the case.
“We are in close contact with Swedish officials in Pyongyang
to seek their assistance in confirming the well-being of Mr.
Short and to obtain more information,” said an Australian
embassy spokesman in Seoul, explaining that its capacity to
deliver consular services in Pyongyang was “extremely
limited”.
Karen Short said that on his first trip to North Korea, her
husband had been transparent about his faith and had openly
read his bible in front of North Korean government guides
when in Pyongyang.
“He’s courageous, this is my husband’s character,” said
Short. “I hope things get better — he’s in God’s hands, we
both totally believe that. He won’t be intimidated by the
communists.”