Summary: In 2014 Jeffrey Frowle traveled to North Korea to spread the gospel of Christianity to the malnourished people there, but while he was there he made a major mistake. During his stay he left a Bible under a trash can in the men’s room at a nightclub. In a nation where visitors are under constant watch, he was arrested immediately. News that yet another American had been taken prisoner by the authoritarian dictatorship of Kim Jong Un quickly made its way back to the U.S., and the small, southern Ohio town of Moraine, where Fowle had worked for 26 years in the streets department. He was detained by Pyonyang police and was under 23 hour watch. After negotiations, he was released to the U.S after 6 months of captivity. Jeffrey shares his story amid the rising tensions with North Korea and the most recent U.S citizen detainee in NK.
Analysis: I can't imagine going to a country that is straight out of George Orwell's "1984", but courageous Jeffrey Frowle went and he went to spread what he believes. I can't say I would do something as bold as leave a bible, or anything "Western", in a country with so many restrictions in the hope that someone would get a hold of it.
It's very nice to hear his story during this crazy time with the petulant country; I think it helps us have insight on as to what really is North Korea. I really feel for the 4 citizens currently in captivity in North Korea, and with the current tensions, it may be a while until they are able to come home.
This is very similar to the Iran- Contra affair, with the U.S Soldiers held hostage in Iran for 444 days.
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I applaud this man for his efforts to help the people of North Korea. He should have been more careful, but his first hand experience of North Korea sheds some light on the reality of the isolationist state.
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