Police arrest pro-NK group leaders on suspicion of violating security law

SEOUL, May 7 (Yonhap) -- Seoul police on Thursday raided the headquarters of a
pro-Pyongyang group and arrested its leaders on suspicion of unauthorized contact
with North Koreans and activities sympathetic to Pyongyang.
Investigators from the National Police Agency searched the Seoul and regional
offices of the National Alliance for the Country's Reunification, commonly called
by its Korean acronym "Pomminryon," and confiscated computers and documents
related to the group's activities. The Seoul-based organization was founded in
1995 with the goal of promoting national reunification efforts in cooperation
with its North Korean counterparts.
The Supreme Court labeled the group a pro-enemy organization in 1997.
Lee Gyu-jae, chairman of the group, and four other leaders were arrested for
allegedly violating the National Security Law, which prohibits contacting North
Koreans without government approval and praising the communist neighbor.
The group is also suspected of publishing journals that laud North Korea's system.
"We are conducting the investigation together with the National Intelligence
Service," a police official said, referring to the nation's top spy agency.
"We cannot disclose detailed information because the charges have not been
determined," he said.
Investigators said they also searched the homes of members of civic groups
affiliated with Pomminryon.
"We don't know why the police are investigating us," a Pomminryon member said. "I
think they consider our journals as pro-enemy."
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)