[Editorial] Pro-Kim Jong Il Communist Groups Ignore Law and Order

The Solidarity Group for a South-North Joint Declaration has started a special series to honor North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il on its website.

The first contribution commemorates the alleged actual birthplace of the dictator, and the second one elaborated on why it was legitimate Kim Jong Il succeeded his father Kim Il Sung. Its writings, however, convey verbatim the regime’s propaganda about Kim Jong Il. Even the most controversial liberal scholars dispute the truthfulness of the data.

More and more pro-communist groups are posting North Korean propaganda as the inter-Korean summit approaches. The Ministry of Information and Telecommunication ordered 13 groups to erase North Korean propaganda postings on their website bulletin board by September 28.

10 of the groups, however, have been resisting the order. With socialist President Roh’s strong support behind them, they are acting like they are above the law. They have caused numerous violent protests, for example, against the US-ROK free trade agreement and relocation of the U.S. Force base in Korea to Pyeongtaek. They are portraying brutal dictator Kim Jong Il as a legitimate leader of North Korea. But the socialist administration has granted multimillion-dollar subsides to them every year.

The information ministry plans to refer the resisting groups to the prosecution. Law enforcement agencies, such as the National Intelligence Service and the prosecution, should have taken action sooner. It’s their duty to protect the law. But still, they are hesitant. Roh administration has been advocating repealing of the National Security Act, which provides the legal grounds for their prosecution.

Roh also hinted through the presidential spokesman that he would allow access to pro-Kim Jong Il websites, citing the academic need to study the regime. Roh’s spokesman said that there is an opinion that North Korean websites should be allowed for access for an academic purpose, and that Cheong Wa Dae believes the opinion is worth reviewing. However, the Supreme Court has long recognized and found legal reading of pro-North Korean contents for academic purposes. As most scholars agree, the content on the prohibited sites do not carry any academic value at all. They are just propaganda for Kim Jong Il regime. Roh’s logic just sounds like an excuse to please Kim Jong Il.

Some people contend that our citizens are “mature” enough to tell which information true and which is not. The secluded regime of the North, however, keeps threatening us with its WMD, starving its people, and violating the human rights of them. But the sites embellish the brutal dictator as revered leader. Allowing free access to such contents, however, does not necessarily constitute a mature society.