QSL from The Voice of the Martyrs Korea: Tuning Into a Clandestine Signal

Logging a Broadcast with a Mission Behind It

Shortwave listening continues to surprise me. On March 26, 2025, while scanning the 31-meter band, I tuned into something unexpected—The Voice of the Martyrs Korea on 7625 kHz at 2100 UTC. It’s not just another international broadcaster. It’s a clandestine station, aimed at reaching listeners inside North Korea, where access to outside information, especially religious, is tightly restricted.

The station uses shortwave radio to share Christian messages and the Gospel with North Koreans, bypassing the state-controlled media wall. Despite jamming attempts, these broadcasts go out regularly, supported by balloon drops carrying Bibles and literature across the border. It’s a mix of old-school DX intrigue and underground communications.

What I Heard That Day 

• Date: March 26, 2025
• Time: 2100–2130 UTC
• Frequency: 7625 kHz
• Language: Chinese
• Transmitter: Tashkent, Uzbekistan
• Reception Method: Remote via WebSDR
• SINPO: 54544

The broadcast began with a station ID, followed by a lengthy talk in Chinese by a female speaker—likely a report or sermon. At 2122 UTC, the speech ended and transitioned into a melodic Chinese song by a female vocalist. The program closed with another station ID and ended abruptly at 2130 UTC.

Reception quality was solid—just light fading and static, but no co-channel interference. For a clandestine station, the clarity was impressive.

A QSL That Tells a Story

I submitted a reception report shortly after and received a kind confirmation and QSL from Pastor Tim Dillmuth at VOM Korea. The QSL wasn’t just a card—it was a glimpse into a broadcast effort that mixes risk, faith, and radio in a way few others do today.

A Note on VOM Korea

The Voice of the Martyrs Korea is part of a larger international network working to support persecuted Christians. Their focus in Korea is on outreach to the North, using radio and other unconventional means. While their mission is spiritual, the way they use radio makes them an interesting subject for DXers, regardless of belief.

Final Thoughts

This wasn’t just a station logged and logged out. It was a reminder of how shortwave still plays a role where few other media can reach. Whether you're in it for the QSLs, the tech, or the stories, this one ticked all the boxes.

Until next time, 73s and good DX!

Radio NUG E-QSL - One more Clandestine Station verified!

To stay connected with the people, The Ministry of Communication, Information, and Technology of the National Unity Government (NUG) of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar - (which is a Myanmar government in exile formed by the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw  or CRPH, a group of elected lawmakers and members of parliament ousted in the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état.) has been broadcasting a radio program, called Radio NUG.

A test run of this program first went on-air on 20th Aug 2021. And in the following months DXers from across Asia and beyond started reporting on their reception of Radio NUG. Ever since its initial days on-the-air, Radio NUG broadcasts for 30 minutes, twice a day (in mornings and evenings) on a daily basis.

I was fortunate to log Radio NUG for the first time on 11940 kHz on 17th Jan, 2022 from my home in Kolkata, India. Programming in Burmese was heard between 1415-1430 UTC. Reception was fair/ audible. At times signal suffered slight fading with static interference. Otherwise no co-channel interference was noted during the broadcast. Overall, there were no significant breakups in signal/ reception during the transmission.

LISTEN HERE

Rajdeep Das · Radio NUG - Burmese - 11940KHz - 17.01.2022

Reception report with audio clip (above) was emailed on 24th Jan, 2022. And the station replied back with E-QSL (full-data) verification on the next day.

Radio NUG E-QSL 

Currently the station identifies itself as - "Radio NUG - The Voice of Myanmar Spring Revolution and National Unity Government of Myanmar". The Shortwave Broadcasting schedule daily 0200-0230 UTC on 17775 KHz & 1400-1430 UTC on 11940 KHz also listed on the website 👈 (Txr - Paochung, Taiwan, Txr Power 250 kW)  Reference Link

Radio NUG - poster. Source: website

If you wish to collect E-QSL verification submit your reception report to Radio NUG by filling up this google form 👉 Link

If you have listened to/ verified Radio NUG in the past, share your experience in comments section below!

Happy Listening 📻🎧

73

Radio Free Asia QSL - IBB Tinian and Saipan

Radio Free Asia (RFA) broadcasting from IBB transmitting stations located at Saipan and Tinian in the Northern Mariana Islands was logged with programming in Mandarin on Feb 28, 2015 at 0345 UTC on 21700 KHz (250 Kw) & 0445 UTC on 17690 KHz (100 Kw) SIO 444 & 333 respectively. 

Reception report for both Tinian and Saipan transmissions was submitted to RFA using their web-form on the same day at http://techweb.rfa.org

Radio Free Asia (RFA) sent two full-data QSLs (mailed from their Washington H.Q).The package containing the 2 QSLs was received on 14 Mar, 2015 in Kolkata, India (in mint condition!) 

The QSL celebrates 2015 as the Year of the Ram (as per Chinese Zodiac). RFA has stated earlier that the same QSL (Year of the Ram - design) will be issued to all correct reception reports received between January-April 2015. Reception reports can also be sent to their email id: qsl@rfa.org

73 from Kolkata, India.

Dengé Kurdistané Clandestine Station QSL'd

Radyoya Dengé Kurdistané broadcasting from Kishinev-Grigoriopol in (Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic) Pridnestrovie, was logged on 5 March, 2015 on 9400 KHz with programming in Kurdish between 14:20-14:40 UTC (19:50-20:10 Hrs IST) Programming consisted of commentary/ interview & report based narratives in Kurdish with songs (patriotic) playing in between talks. Station ID was heard at 14:05 UTC in between news snippets. SIO 433 RX Tecsun PL660, ANT- Degen 31MS Indoor MW SW Active Loop Antenna. QTH Ballygunge, Kolkata, India. 

Reception report was emailed to the Technical Director of the transmitting station. An e-QSL verification (v/s Sergey Omelchenko, Technical Director, Pridnestrovskiy Radiotelecentr) came within two days of sending reception report.

Denge Kurdistane (Voice of Kurdistan) broadcasts are targeted to Iraq, operationl since 1 September 2012 *as per Shortwave Central Blog. "This service either replaces Denge Mezopotmaya/Voice of Mezopotamya or has been renamed from it."

Denge Kurdistan has a dedicated app listed on the Google Play Store. Click HERE. You can also listen them online via their website: www.denge-kurdistan.com -OR- you can connect with them on their Facebook Page facebook.com/dengekurdistan 

73 from Kolkata, India.

Radio Payam e-Doost QSL'd

Radio Payam e-Doost broadcasting from Kishinev-Grigoriopol in (Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic) Pridnestrovie, was logged on Feb 22, 2015 on 7480 KHz with programming in Farsi (Persian) between 1815-1845 Hrs UTC (2245-2315 Hrs IST) with SIO 433. Programming consisted of indigenous music and talk (speech). Station ID was heard just before sign off. Reception report was emailed to the Technical Director of the transmitting station. An electronic QSL verification (v/s Sergey Omelchenko, Technical Director) came within a few hours of sending reception report. 

By the way, there seems to be confusion as to whether coin this station as a clandestine or a religious broadcaster. I consider it as a clandestine station. Here's my analysis - 

Payam e-Doost closely translates to "message from a friend"/ 'message of friendship'/ 'friendly message' - 'payam' is message and 'doost' friend in Farsi (Persian). Unlike hardcore Clandestine stations where differing political thoughts and voice against the ruling powers is the main agenda of the broadcasts, in case of Radio Payam e-Doost it is about practicing 'religious freedom' and having equal rights for Baha'i people of Iran. 

"The Baha’i community in Iran faces severe and systematic discrimination and persecution. They are routinely denied freedom of religion and are prosecuted for practicing their faith." Read these two features in your spare time - The Huffington Post & International Campaign for Human Rights In this respect, I find it fair enough to refer the station as clandestine broadcaster. Your comments are welcome. 

73 from Kolkata, India.

Radio Dabanga Verified with QSL Card

My long cherished DX dream of verifying Radio Dabanga was fulfilled yesterday. I consider this station as one of the most attractive Clandestine Stations operating today on the shortwave spectrum. I have heard them multiple times in the past yet somehow didn't find enough confidence to send them reception report, mostly because either the signal wasn't clear enough for me to note a distinct station ID or I was lazy to pen down my report after hearing them on air. 

However, on Jun 22, 2013, I listened to their Arabic broadcast on 15725 KHz via Santa Maria di Galeria (CVA) from my QTH in Kolkata, India on my Tecsun PL310 receiver and sent my report to them right away  for verification.

It took me a couple of times to follow up with the audience relation authority and ultimately after 1 year of sending my reception report I received a full-data QSL card delivered to my address from Radio Dabanga. It was sent from Free Press Unlimited office in Amsterdam, The Nederlands.

If you want to learn more about Radio Dabanga visit their website > www.radiodabanga.org

You can also connect to them on Facebook - Radio Darfur

73's