On Wednesday, the People Power Party strongly criticized the government’s decision to open North Korean media outlets, including Rodong Sinmun, to the general public. The party demanded an immediate and comprehensive review of this unilateral opening, urging the government to swiftly retract the measure.
In an official statement, Unification Committee Chairman Kim Ki-woong expressed profound concern and disappointment regarding the unrestricted access to Rodong Sinmun.
Chairman Kim raised alarming questions about the potential harm Rodong Sinmun’s content could inflict on the mindset and daily lives of South Korean citizens. He emphasized that this decision is particularly troubling as it exposes even the youth to Rodong Sinmun without any safeguards in place.
Kim further argued that this action goes beyond a mere unilateral opening. It directly exposes the South Korean public to a medium that serves as a mouthpiece for the North Korean Workers’ Party’s propaganda, rather than representing North Korea’s genuine culture and arts. He also pointed out that opening access to North Korean cultural and broadcasting content could have been a valuable bargaining chip, potentially used to negotiate access for North Korean citizens to South Korean media. Kim questioned the wisdom of relinquishing such a crucial leverage point without securing any concessions in return.
The chairman challenged the government, asking if they had considered the potential ways North Korea might interpret and exploit this situation. He warned that Rodong Sinmun’s direct exposure to South Korean citizens could lead to intensified propaganda efforts. These could include campaigns for abolishing the National Security Law, calls to halt joint U.S.-South Korea military exercises, slander against specific political factions and conservative groups, and the spread of disinformation aimed at sowing division and chaos within South Korean society.
Kim emphatically stated that Rodong Sinmun does not reflect the realities of North Korea but serves as a tool for regime propaganda. He accused the Lee Jae Myung administration of committing acts tantamount to treason by allocating taxpayer money to disseminate Rodong Sinmun, while simultaneously leading efforts to dismantle reports on North Korean human rights violations.