Korea Solidarity's Key Executives Suspended Sentencing for Violation of National Security Law

A key executive of the transfer group "Korea Solidarity" has been sentenced to probation for violating the National Security Law.

The Seoul Central District Court recently sentenced A, who was indicted on charges of violating the National Security Law, to one and a half years in prison and suspended his sentence for three years.

The court said that in the current situation where North Korea still threatens the liberal democratic system of the Republic of Korea, it is inevitable to punish A strictly even considering his freedom of thought and expression.

The Korea Solidarity was formed in November 2011 with the aim of implementing North Korea's strategy of revolution against the South, and was ruled a transfer organization by the Supreme Court in 2016.

Mr. A is a key executive who participated from the formation stage of the Korea Solidarity, and was found to have led a rally to argue for the abolition of the National Security Law when the investigation into the group began in earnest in December 2014.

At a rally held by Mr. A in February 2016, participants made remarks justifying North Korea's nuclear development and advocating the need for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from South Korea.