JAKARTA – The Unification Ministry said on Tuesday that South Koreans can now read Rodong Sinmun, the ruling Workers’ Party’s main newspaper in North Korea, without prior approval from authorities, following the easing of decades-old restrictions on Pyongyang’s publications.
Under the new policy, Rodong Sinmun – which has been classified as a “special publication” – has been reclassified as a “general publication,” allowing the public to access the publication in libraries without special approval procedures.
“Starting today, visitors to the institution authorized to handle the newspaper will be able to access Rodong Sinmun in the same way as general publications, without the need for identity verification or separate application procedures,” Deputy Unification Minister Kim Nam-jung said in a briefing, reported by The Korea Times (31/12).
Kim further said that this change is intended to ensure free access of the public to information about North Korea, away from the current system where the government controls and selectively provides such information.
According to the ministry, 181 institutions across the country keep copies of Rodong Sinmun, although only about 20 – including the state-run North Korean Information Center and the National Library of Korea – have the latest edition.
Previously, the newspaper was stored on a closed shelf, accessible only upon request and after the user’s identity and purpose were verified.
Under the new system, the newspaper can now be placed on open shelves alongside other publications.
The latest decision follows a meeting between the National Intelligence Agency and relevant government agencies on Friday, which agreed to treat the newspaper as “public material.”
The ministry said it would expand public access to North Korean materials and other websites through cooperation with other government organizations and the National Assembly.
It is known that currently access to around 60 North Korean-related websites, including the Korean Central News Agency, the regime’s main mouthpiece, is still blocked in South Korea.
These measures are part of a broader effort by President Lee Jae Myung’s administration to expand public access to North Korean materials, citing the public’s right to know and the academic value of the content.
During a policy briefing of the ministry on December 19, President Lee said the long-standing ban was the same as “treating our people as people who are easily influenced by North Korean propaganda and agitation.”
On the other hand, critics expressed concern that distorted content from North Korean propaganda media could still affect South Koreans, especially young people and students.
North Korean state media, which is tightly controlled, often carries articles praising leader Kim Jong-un and the regime’s political system. The media also often criticizes South Korean authorities, accusing them of fueling inter-Korean tensions.
When asked whether the government planned to fight or clarify the false information contained in Pyongyang’s material, a senior ministry official said, “Decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis. We have no unilateral approach at the moment.”
The English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and French versions are automatically generated by the AI. So there may still be inaccuracies in translating, please always see Indonesian as our main language.
(system supported by DigitalSiber.id)