Ministry of Unification: "No Consideration at All for Regulating Broadcasts to North Korea"

The Ministry of Unification revoked the corporate registration of two North Korean defector organizations, 'Jayubukhan Undongyeonhap' and 'Keunsaem,' which distributed leaflets and goods to North Korea, on the 17th of last month. The photo shows the 'Keunsaem' office located in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, in the afternoon of the same day.

The government, which announced a strong regulatory policy on the distribution of leaflets to North Korea, stated on the 13th that it is "not considering any regulations on broadcasts to North Korea" in response to reports that similar measures might be applied to North Korean broadcasts.

An official from the Ministry of Unification answered this way when asked by reporters on the same day whether there were plans to take action against private organizations operating radio broadcasts to North Korea.

Earlier, on the 11th, according to the U.S.-based North Korea specialist media 'NK News,' Lee Jong-ju, Director of the Ministry of Unification's India Cooperation Bureau, was asked during a foreign press tour in Ganghwa-do, "If North Korea raises issues with South Korean human rights organizations' radio broadcasts to North Korea, will you respond in the same way as the ban on leaflet distribution to North Korea in June?" He replied, "I cannot say yes or no."

This was interpreted as the government considering regulations on broadcasts to North Korea, causing a stir, but the government quickly moved to contain the situation and prevent overinterpretation.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Unification plans to expand the scope of administrative inspections on pro-North organizations. Following increased controversy after North Korea's backlash against leaflet distribution by pro-North organizations, the Ministry conducted administrative inspections on 25 registered corporations and checked registration requirements for 64 non-profit private organizations.

The Ministry of Unification plans to send official letters next week to social and cultural exchange cooperation organizations regarding future inspection schedules. Through administrative inspections and checks, they will examine whether the corporations and organizations are properly carrying out the purpose projects specified in their articles of incorporation.

There have been critical voices domestically and internationally regarding the government's actions. The international human rights organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) issued a statement titled "South Korea, Stop Threatening Human Rights Organizations" on the 1st, urging the Ministry of Unification to halt administrative inspections targeting pro-North organizations.

HRW stated, "The South Korean government must stop regulatory threats targeting specific civil society organizations," and argued, "Controversies over leaflets to North Korea should not block the need to support and protect diverse civil societies pressuring North Korean authorities to respect human rights."

Representatives of about 30 North Korean human rights and defector organizations recently formed a joint countermeasure committee to respond to the Ministry of Unification's administrative inspections.