Military calls pro-NK groups ‘foe’

President Lee Myung-bak, third from right, talks with high-ranking military officials including Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin, right, after a ceremony to announce military promotions at Cheong Wa Dae, Wednesday. / Yonhap

The military has begun classifying pro-Pyongyang groups in the South as “enemies” in its educational guidelines for soldiers, saying such organizations cause agitation in society, the defense ministry said Wednesday.

The guidelines, which were submitted to an opposition lawmaker, name nine civic and student groups that fall into the category of “anti-state organizations.”

The groups “recklessly follow North Korea’s policy aimed at threatening the national security of Korea” and are “clearly the enemy of the military,” the guideline says. The material is used in boot camps, military education organizations, and other training activities.

“Masking their true nature, they mastermind or lead demonstrations from behind the scenes,” it says, calling the groups a “malicious virus.” A military official added that the material aims “at maintaining consistency in security awareness education for all troops.”

Criticism of such sympathizers rose sharply this year after some lawmakers of the minor opposition United Progressive Party were said to have espoused a pro-North stance. In June, President Lee urged the groups to stop blindly accepting Pyongyang’s assertions.

However, some lawmakers cautioned the military from taking the sentiment too far and assuming all left-leaning groups actively side with the North.

“When the troops educate (soldiers), they should not include politically controversial content,” said Rep. Jin Sung-joon of the main opposition Democratic United Party in a release. “Pro-North Korea forces and liberal groups should be differentiated.”

The disclosure comes at a sensitive time as Seoul gears up for presidential elections in December. Pyongyang has in the past waged provocations and rhetoric campaigns in order to sway public opinion toward liberal candidates.

Last month, North Korean fishing boats crossed the tense West Sea border multiple times in what was seen as an attempt to test the South’s nerve and cause division here.

Under the National Security Law, it is illegal here to practice communism or recognize North Korea as a political entity. Enforced in 1948, the law sought to protect the country in the run-up to the Korean War, and is now used to investigate those who “praise, disseminate or cooperate with anti-state groups” and thereby pose a threat to democracy. <The Korea Times/Kim Young-jin>

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