Support 110 years of independent journalism.

  1. Politics
20 August 2010

South Korea blocks North’s Twitter account for “illegal” posts

Tweets supporting the North Korean regime have been banned by South Korea based on a decades old Nat

By New Statesman

South Korea has blocked access to the official North Korean Twitter account, a few days after the latter started posting messages on the microblogging service.

The Twitter feed @uriminzok was launched last week and has been providing Korean-language headlines and links to propaganda-heavy news items on its page.

South Korea’s Communication Standards Commission concluded that the tweets are illegal under the decades-old National Security Law, because they “praise, encourage sympathy for, publicise, or support the North Korean regime’s activities.”

Han Myung-ho, a commission official, said that they decided to act immediately, after having considered the unique nature of social networking services like Twitter, “where specific information can be dispersed to thousands in a short period of time”.

The commission has so far restricted access to 65 sites that are pro-North Korea in nature or are run by North Korea.

Select and enter your email address Your weekly guide to the best writing on ideas, politics, books and culture every Saturday - from the New Statesman. Sign up directly at saturdayread.substack.com The New Statesman's quick and essential guide to the news and politics of the day. Sign up directly at morningcall.substack.com Stay up to date with NS events, subscription offers & updates. Weekly analysis of the shift to a new economy from the New Statesman's Spotlight on Policy team.
  • Administration / Office
  • Arts and Culture
  • Board Member
  • Business / Corporate Services
  • Client / Customer Services
  • Communications
  • Construction, Works, Engineering
  • Education, Curriculum and Teaching
  • Environment, Conservation and NRM
  • Facility / Grounds Management and Maintenance
  • Finance Management
  • Health - Medical and Nursing Management
  • HR, Training and Organisational Development
  • Information and Communications Technology
  • Information Services, Statistics, Records, Archives
  • Infrastructure Management - Transport, Utilities
  • Legal Officers and Practitioners
  • Librarians and Library Management
  • Management
  • Marketing
  • OH&S, Risk Management
  • Operations Management
  • Planning, Policy, Strategy
  • Printing, Design, Publishing, Web
  • Projects, Programs and Advisors
  • Property, Assets and Fleet Management
  • Public Relations and Media
  • Purchasing and Procurement
  • Quality Management
  • Science and Technical Research and Development
  • Security and Law Enforcement
  • Service Delivery
  • Sport and Recreation
  • Travel, Accommodation, Tourism
  • Wellbeing, Community / Social Services
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
THANK YOU

In 32 tweets, North Korea has denounced its southern counterpart, describing reports that North Korea sank a South Korean navy ship as a “conspiracy”.

Content from our partners
Strengthening the UK's clinical trial ecosystem
Ageing well with technology
"Homesharing helps us get a better work-life balance"