Seoul: The unification ministry announced on Friday that it is engaged in discussions with related government agencies to evaluate the possibility of permitting public access to the Rodong Sinmun, the primary newspaper of North Korea's ruling Worker's Party, along with other North Korean materials.

According to Yonhap News Agency, access to North Korean media and publications, including the Rodong Sinmun, is currently restricted in South Korea as they are categorized as "special materials." This classification stems from concerns that the content may include elements that praise or promote North Korea. President Lee Jae Myung has expressed concerns about this ban, suggesting that it implies the public might be susceptible to North Korean propaganda and agitation.

On Friday, the unification ministry, in conjunction with the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and other government entities, is expected to convene a meeting to explore the possibility of reclassifying the Rodong Sinmun. The aim is to categorize it as "general materials" rather than special ones, as per the guidelines of the spy agency.

"We are considering measures to allow public access to North Korean materials in a more open manner," stated Chang Yoon-jeong, deputy spokesperson at the ministry, during a press briefing. The NIS has indicated that it is "positively" assessing measures to grant public access to North Korean materials to uphold the public's right to information and promote inter-Korean exchanges.

Currently, the Rodong Sinmun is accessible only at designated facilities, such as the ministry's information center on North Korea, and only after verifying an applicant's identity and purpose for accessing the content. Should the Rodong Sinmun be reclassified as general information, South Koreans would have easier access to the print version of the newspaper. However, online access to the newspaper's website will remain prohibited.

In a report to the National Assembly, the NIS also mentioned that it will "proactively" evaluate the possibility of lifting the ban on online access to North Korea-related websites. The government has previously restricted online access to approximately 60 North Korean websites under the Information and Communications Network Act, which allows for such restrictions in accordance with the national security law.