On the 7th, North Korea's Workers' Party newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, is available at the National Assembly Library. An official from the National Assembly Library stated that Rodong Sinmun has been available since the afternoon of the 5th. [Photo=Yonhap News]

There is considerable debate surrounding the Lee Jae-myung administration's unilateral decision to allow access to North Korea's Rodong Sinmun. Naturally, progressives are wholeheartedly welcoming it, while conservatives are opposing it. 

However, the issue is that even among some who claim to be conservatives, there are those who either support or do not consider the opening of Rodong Sinmun to be a significant matter. Below are my thoughts on an article written by someone who supports the opening of Rodong Sinmun.

Rodong Sinmun is Propaganda… Cannot Understand North Korea's Reality

First, he wrote, "By reading Rodong Sinmun, one can properly understand the pathological state of North Korea's system. Just looking at Rodong Sinmun is enough. North Korean Central TV only broadcasts praise for the Kim family. Is North Korea a rational country? The moment you view North Korean media, such vague notions shatter."

Is he still unaware that North Korea is a deceptive dictatorial society? I believe it is truly foolish to think that one can understand North Korea only by reading its propaganda, Rodong Sinmun, in its physical form.

Second, that person wrote, "It is helpful for North Korean research. In an environment where North Korean media could only be accessed through Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), archiving materials from North Korea was very difficult. Now that those restrictions are gone, it's a good thing."

I don't understand what he intends to research by looking at Rodong Sinmun, such as the false portrayal of North Korea's economic development and fabricated changes by region and time. Furthermore, departments related to North Korea can already access Rodong Sinmun; what is the intention behind demanding full openness?

Third, he wrote, "It becomes easier to mock the North Korean system by creating composite edits using North Korean media. South Korea is a country with many masters of composite editing. This effectively releases a lot of good sources to them."

The idea of creating composite works based on Rodong Sinmun to mock the North Korean system is truly foolish. Have we not been able to do this because we lacked knowledge until now? And who will mock North Korea, and how? Given that the progressive government that enacted laws to crack down on loudspeaker broadcasts and leaflet distribution to North Korea is now in power, these people would need to read Rodong Sinmun to create composite works mocking North Korea. Did this idea originate from a sound mind?

Demand Information Opening from North Korea Too?… Limitations of Some Intellectuals

Fourth, he stated, "In the future, we can confidently demand the opening of external information from the North Korean regime. Since we have opened all information from North Korea, demands based on reciprocity, such as North Korea opening all South Korean information, become possible."

No matter how I look at it, I suspect that people with such thoughts are either staunch supporters of Lee Jae-myung, somewhat lacking in intellect, or are perhaps flattering the Lee Jae-myung administration in hopes of obtaining a position.

Indeed, who on this land of Korea would dare to demand the opening of external information from the North Korean regime? South Korea has neither the right nor the courage to make such a demand of the North Korean regime.

If a demand for information opening were made, North Korea would flatly refuse, saying, "We never asked you to open Rodong Sinmun. You did this of your own volition; why are you making such a foul demand of us? If that's the case, don't open Rodong Sinmun!" We would then be left in the embarrassing situation of a dog chasing its tail. This is the limit of some South Korean intellectuals who only know half the story.

To summarize, there is nothing for South Korea's conservatives to gain from opening Rodong Sinmun. Do not try to hide your incompetence by acting as if you misunderstand North Korea and therefore pursue poor policies towards it. Also, do not entertain the shameful delusion that you can change North Korea by studying Rodong Sinmun.

Rodong Sinmun Will Be Used for North Korean Idealization Education

However, for pro-North Korean progressives, the opening of Rodong Sinmun is entirely different. First, through the Korean Teachers and Education Workers' Union and progressive education superintendents, they will openly use materials from Rodong Sinmun to conduct education glorifying North Korea.

Then, naive children will come to believe that North Korea is an ideal nation with no taxes, completely free medical care, and free education.

Not only that. They will be educated that North Korea is a society without the rich or capitalists, a paradise where everyone lives equally well without exploiters, and the Kim Il-sung family will be revered as a great lineage that defeated the Japanese imperialists and did not fear the United States.

Furthermore, they will envy North Korea as a supreme power with nuclear armament and come to see South Korea as a colony of the United States.

The most significant problem lies elsewhere. There is no one in South Korea who can stop Rodong Sinmun from being used to ruin the education of future generations in South Korea and lead the nation to ruin.

The conclusion is that the opening of Rodong Sinmun should absolutely not happen, as its drawbacks far outweigh its advantages, beyond any research considerations.

◆ Advisor Kim Tae-san

Advisor to Hankmi Ilbo, former representative of a North Korean trading company in the Czech Republic. In South Korea, he has worked as Deputy Director of the North Korea Social Research Institute, providing in-depth insights and experience on inter-Korean relations and North Korean issues.