Kim Jung-kwan, the Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources, has initiated criminal charges in response to false claims regarding the alleged influx of oil into North Korea.
According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources on Tuesday, Minister Kim filed a complaint with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency against the operators of the YouTube channel “Jeon Han-gil News”, as well as those behind “Jeonrado Uhoejeon” and “TV Jayu Ilbo”, who recently suggested online that 900,000 barrels of oil may have flowed from Ulsan to North Korea via third countries like China. He accused them of defamation for spreading false information under the Criminal Act and the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection.
Previously, on Monday, the ministry clarified through a press release that the claims regarding the export of oil to North Korea were entirely unfounded. Minister Kim stated that it cannot tolerate actions that exploit a national crisis for personal or political gain. Fake news disrupts social order and severely hinders the nation’s ability to overcome crises, so it will utilize all available measures to respond rigorously and decisively.