These days a dreary situation in south Korea is stunning the public.
Days ago, the south Korean judicial authorities held a final hearing on an appeal at the Seoul High Court and demanded five years in prison for an inhabitant, who posted an article praising the peerlessly great men of Mt Paektu on websites and called for reunification through alliance with the north, on charges of violation of the "Security Law".
Earlier on June 13, they held a trial of a reverend and sentenced him to three years in prison on charges of espionage that he was linked with the north during the Park Geun Hye regime.
These are an unpardonable crime against the public yearning for a new politics and life and a reckless action of swimming against the trend of the times toward improvement of the north-south relations.
The present south Korean authorities came to power by winning support from the candlelight demonstrators with a call for improved north-south relations in the "presidential election".
However, no sooner had they taken office than they turned to a confrontation racket, staging more madcap war drills against the fellow countrymen by introducing two nuclear carrier strike groups of the US, far from mending the north-south relations.
They would say that they represent the mindset of the candlelight demonstrators and stand for "democratic reform". But in actuality they are invoking the evil law of the confrontational era which defines the fellow countrymen in the north as "enemy", just like the Lee Myung Bak and Park Geun Hye conservative groups.
It is no exaggeration to say that the present south Korean ruling quarters are victims of the modern "witch hunt". But they behave like an heir to the Park Geun Hye regime. This is a betrayal and open challenge to the candlelight demonstrators.
They outwardly call for "improved north-south relations," but inwardly crack down upon those who advocate independent reunification and support the dialogue partner. Such attitude is little short of declaration of their intention to go for confrontation with the fellow countrymen.
It is high time for the south Korean authorities to take a proper option; for improvement of the relations with compatriots or for confrontation with them.
If they really represent the candlelight demonstrators demanding the abolition of the evils in the old era, they should not enforce the anti-reunification confrontation evil law but take the lead in the struggle for its abolition and make a bold decision to promptly set free those who are detained on unreasonable charges.
Anyone failing to see the trend of the times and going against the public demand is bound to meet a miserable end finally.
KCNA