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Young activists challenge South Korea's national security law

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South Korea's strict national security law is being challenged by a wave of activists showing open support for the upcoming visit of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Public rallies and exhibits praising Kim would have been unthinkable a few years ago. But that's now changing thanks to president Moon Jae-in's campaign to improve relations with Pyongyang.


These young South Koreans are over the moon North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is planning a trip to Seoul.

And to show their enthusiasm they're installing a public photo exhibition on the streets of the capital to welcome Kim to the South. But what they're doing here is actually illegal under South Korea's national security law.

LEADER OF STUDENT GROUP, KIM HAN-SEONG, SAYING:

"All the South Korean officials who recently visited Pyongyang are now praising Chairman Kim Jong Un. In this current situation, I think the law is meaningless."

Since the National Security Act was passed in 1948 thousands of people have been jailed and even executed, most accused of spying for Pyongyang or even just having the wrong sympathies.

Rights groups call it a relic of the Cold War that should be repealed.

President Moon Jae-in hasn't gone that far but he has eased up on enforcing it as his government works to improve relations with the North and halt its nuclear weapons program.

Only about 15 people have been charged so far this year compared to 129 people five years ago. But for some South Koreans it's not a welcome move...especially defectors who grew up under the Kim regime.

NORTH KOREAN DEFECTOR, SEO JAE-PYOUNG, SAYING:

"North Korea hasn't changed at all. It's not willing to shut down its nuclear program and it hasn't stopped spying. We need the National Security Law to protect ourselves."

A recent survey showed more than half of South Koreans want to keep the law.

While North Korea takes the opposite view: state media this week saying now that relations between the Koreas are improving, there's no reason for it to exist. (Reuters)

A students' committee holds a press conference at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, Nov. 26, to welcome North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's expected visit to Seoul. Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in agreed on the visit during their third summit in Pyongyang in September. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
A students' committee holds a press conference at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, Nov. 26, to welcome North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's expected visit to Seoul. Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in agreed on the visit during their third summit in Pyongyang in September. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk


A North Korean defector, now living in South Korea, prepares to release balloons carrying propaganda leaflets denouncing recent North Korea's nuclear test, near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on April, 29, 2016 in Paju, South Korea. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
A North Korean defector, now living in South Korea, prepares to release balloons carrying propaganda leaflets denouncing recent North Korea's nuclear test, near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on April, 29, 2016 in Paju, South Korea. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
Choi Won-suk wschoi@koreatimes.co.kr


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