Seoul: South Koreans will now have easier access to Rodong Sinmun, North Korea's main newspaper, at designated facilities and major public libraries. This development, announced by the unification ministry, marks a shift in policy as the newspaper is reclassified from "special" to "general materials."
According to Yonhap News Agency, public access to Rodong Sinmun and other North Korean publications was previously restricted due to concerns over content promoting the North Korean regime. These publications were classified as "special materials" under guidelines from the spy agency. Previously, individuals needed to verify their identity and purpose to access the newspaper at specific facilities, like the ministry's information center on North Korea.
With the new policy, South Koreans can now access the paper version of Rodong Sinmun more freely, although online access to its website remains banned. During a policy briefing, President Lee Jae Myung criticized the previous restrictions, stating they treated the public as susceptible to propaganda. Vice Unification Minister Kim Nam-jung emphasized the government's commitment to expanding public access to North Korean information, allowing citizens to assess and judge the North's situation independently.
In addition, the government aims to lift restrictions on online access to around 60 North Korean websites, including the Korean Central News Agency. This is part of broader efforts to provide greater transparency and information access concerning North Korea.
Furthermore, the unification ministry is considering lifting South Korea's unilateral sanctions imposed on North Korea in 2010. These May 24 sanctions, introduced by the former Lee Myung-bak administration, halted most trade and economic exchanges with the North due to its attack on the South Korean warship Cheonan. Although the ministry claimed in 2020 that these sanctions no longer impede inter-Korean exchanges, an official announcement on their lifting has yet to be made.