South Korea's Unification Ministry announced on December 26, 2025, that the government will initiate administrative procedures to reclassify North Korea's official newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, from "special materials" to "general materials." This change will allow broader public access to the printed edition, marking a significant step in President Lee Jae-myung's administration's efforts to reduce inter-Korean tensions and promote information exchange.
The decision followed a consultative meeting involving the Unification Ministry, the National Intelligence Service (NIS), and other agencies, where consensus was reached on the reclassification. "The official measure to reclassify Rodong Sinmun as general material will be implemented early next week through necessary administrative procedures," the ministry stated. Once effective, South Koreans will be able to access the paper version without the current restrictions, though online access to North Korean websites, including Rodong Sinmun's digital edition, will remain prohibited.
Currently, Rodong Sinmun—the organ of North Korea's ruling Workers' Party—is classified as "special materials" due to concerns over pro-North propaganda. Access is limited to designated facilities, such as the Unification Ministry's North Korea Information Center, where individuals must verify identity and provide a reason for reading it.
The NIS has expressed a "positive" stance on expanding access to North Korean materials, citing the public's right to information and potential benefits for inter-Korean exchanges. In a recent report to the National Assembly, the agency indicated it would "proactively" review lifting bans on North Korea-related websites.
President Lee Jae-myung, who assumed office in June 2025 following a snap election, has been a vocal critic of strict restrictions. During a Unification Ministry briefing on December 19, 2025, he questioned the rationale: "Is the reason for preventing the public from reading the North Korean Rodong Sinmun because you are worried they might fall for propaganda and become communists?" His administration views the policy as outdated, treating citizens as vulnerable to agitation rather than capable of critical judgment.
Since taking power, the dovish Lee government has pursued de-escalation measures, including suspending anti-North loudspeaker broadcasts along the border and discouraging civic groups from sending propaganda leaflets northward. These actions signal a renewed emphasis on dialogue, reminiscent of previous progressive administrations' engagement policies.
Critics argue the reclassification risks exposing the public to North Korean ideology, but supporters contend it aligns with democratic principles in a mature society. The move also reflects broader reviews of laws governing North Korean content, including potential amendments to the Information and Communications Network Act.
In a separate but contemporaneous development on December 26, 2025, a Seoul court acquitted former senior officials from the Moon Jae-in administration—including ex-National Security Adviser Suh Hoon, former NIS Director Park Jie-won, and former Defense Minister Suh Wook—in a case alleging cover-up of North Korea's 2020 killing of a South Korean fisheries official. The court cited insufficient evidence, closing a politically charged probe that had symbolized conservative scrutiny of past engagement efforts.
These events underscore the Lee administration's shift toward reconciliation amid persistent challenges on the Korean Peninsula.
