Friday’s edition of the state-run Rodong Sinmun newspaper described American missionaries in North Korea as sinister and cunning, warning North Koreans not to trust them.

Last Monday, the online media outlet The Intercept included a claim that the U.S. Department of Defense was funding American missionaries as spies for its intelligence program. NK News reported that current and former staff of American NGOs who have spent time in North Korea have doubts about the claims of a “missionary spies” intelligence program.

In the 10-plus days since The Intercept report, North Korean had authorities remained silent on the “missionary spies” claim.

While