Kim Kwang-su, chair of the Busan Peace Unification Center Hana, who made remarks defending North Korea's view of war at a National Assembly forum, has been indicted on charges of violating the National Security Act.
The Busan District Prosecutors' Office said on the 18th it indicted Kim without detention on charges of violating the National Security Act.
Kim is accused of attending a National Assembly forum in Jan. 2024 hosted by former lawmaker Yoon Mi-hyang and calling North Korea's view of war a "view of a just war," arguing that this perspective should be accepted depending on circumstances.
The forum was an event Yoon co-hosted with more than 20 civic groups under the theme "Fundamental changes in inter-Korean relations and understanding the Korean Peninsula crisis."
At the time, Kim said, "The North's view of war is a view of a just war," and, "Although it is a last resort, if a unification war inevitably breaks out and leads to peace as a result, that view of war should also be accepted," sparking controversy.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's National Security Investigation Division, which launched a probe following complaints from political circles, sent the case to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office. The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office then transferred the case to the Busan District Prosecutors' Office at Kim's side's request.