South Korea will reclassify North Korea's state newspaper, the Rodong Sinmun, from "special" to "general" material, making it easier for the public to access. The decision, reached at an inter-agency meeting, will be implemented early next week through administrative procedures. President Lee Jae Myung says the change reduces unnecessary censorship and trusts citizens to judge propaganda for themselves. Pyongyang has not yet responded to Seoul's overtures.
South Korea to Reclassify North Korea's Rodong Sinmun, Easing Longstanding Access Restriction
A man reads North Korea's Rodong Sinmun newspaper on a digital monitor at a metro station in Pyongyang (KIM Won Jin)(KIM Won Jin/AFP/AFP)
South Korea announced on Friday that it will reclassify North Korea's long-prohibited state newspaper, the Rodong Sinmun, from "special" to "general" material — a move that will make the publication easier for the public to access. The decision, approved at an inter-agency meeting, is being framed by Seoul's dovish administration as a step toward greater transparency and reduced censorship.
Despite the reclassification, the two Koreas remain technically at war, and a decades-old national security law that restricts some North Korean propaganda remains on the books. Officials said the administrative steps to implement the change will take place early next week.
Why the change? Supporters of the move, including President Lee Jae Myung, argue that South Koreans are politically mature enough to evaluate North Korean material themselves rather than having the state act as gatekeeper. They say the ban amounted to unnecessary censorship in one of the world's most connected and highly educated democracies.
Lee dismissed worries that "the public will fall for the propaganda and become commies" as exaggerated, adding that allowing access could help citizens "understand the reality of North Korea accurately" and conclude for themselves that "that shouldn't be happening."
The Rodong Sinmun is the official newspaper of the Workers' Party of Korea and routinely publishes content that praises North Korean leadership and state policies. Critics of the previous restrictions argued that restricting access limited public understanding and debate about the North.
Seoul's Unification Ministry had advised the president last week that it intended to relax access to certain North Korean propaganda materials, and the government's statement said the agencies involved reached a consensus on reclassification. The measure will be implemented through routine administrative procedures.
President Lee has also sought to repair strained ties with Pyongyang: earlier this month he said an apology was due to the North over allegations that his predecessor ordered drone flights and leaflet drops across the border. Pyongyang has not publicly responded to Lee's outreach.
What stays the same: Officials emphasized that the national security framework has not been abolished and legal restrictions remain in place where materials pose a clear danger to public order or security.
