Prisoner In North Korea
VOMRadio
The Voice of the Martyrs
4.9 • 1.4K Ratings
🗓️ 10 July 2021
⏱️ 25 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Australian John Short was detained in North Korea. He was repeatedly interrogated. He was forced to write a "confession" of his "crimes," including the offense of wanting more North Koreans to follow Jesus.
But if God asked him today, Short would happily go back to the "Hermit Kingdom." Short shares with VOM Radio how God strengthened him during his captivity, Scriptures and earthly examples of persecuted Christians that most encouraged him, and how he managed to take a measure of control back from his captors — and even make them nervous.
Mr. Short agreed to only two media interviews after his release; one with his hometown newspaper back in Australia, and the other with The Voice of the Martyrs Radio.
Hear the rest of the story when you listen also to our interview with Short's wife, Karen.
Never miss an episode of VOM Radio! Subscribe to the podcast.
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | If it was a crime to tell other people about Jesus, would you be guilty? |
| 0:06.6 | Would there be enough evidence to convict you? |
| 0:10.3 | That theoretical question has been asked many times in the Western Church. |
| 0:15.0 | It's even been the subject of popular songs. |
| 0:18.3 | But when John Short found himself detained by officials in North Korea, the question was |
| 0:24.6 | very real. |
| 0:26.6 | He looks back and remembers what his interrogators said. |
| 0:30.2 | You committed the crime of tearing Bible literature into China. |
| 0:37.0 | And I said, yes, I admit, this is a crime against their law. |
| 0:41.8 | Your second crime is that you want more and more North Koreans to believe in Jesus. |
| 0:48.4 | I said, yes, guilty. |
| 0:52.3 | Jesus never promised his followers an easy path. |
| 0:55.6 | In fact, he told us disciples that the world would hate them. |
| 0:59.1 | He sent them out as sheep among wolves. |
| 1:01.9 | Jesus' words came true in the life of the apostles. |
| 1:05.0 | And they're still coming true today in the lives of his followers around the world. |
| 1:09.4 | Join us, Todd Netletons. |
| 1:10.4 | We hear their inspiring stories and learn how we can help. |
| 1:14.1 | Right now on The Voice of the Martyrs Radio Network. |
| 1:16.8 | Welcome again to The Voice of the Martyrs Radio. |
| 1:18.9 | My name is Todd Netletons. |
| 1:20.4 | Thank you for being with us this week. |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from The Voice of the Martyrs, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of The Voice of the Martyrs and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.