This is a reversed trial of patriotism and justice by treachery and injustice, the paper says in a signed commentary today.

The commentary goes on to say:

Rev. Han, during his 70-day Pyongyang visit, met and shared warm brotherly love with compatriots from different walks of life in the north. He ardently called for rejecting the foreign forces' domination and aggression and the separatist forces' sycophancy and treachery and their moves for confrontation with fellow countrymen, defending peace of the country and achieving the independent reunification under the banner of the north-south joint declarations by the concerted efforts of the Korean nation.

This was a patriotic deed deserving high appreciation as it served to provide the continuity of the June 15 era of reunification and achieve the national reconciliation and unity and the country's peace and reunification.

The heavy penalty demanded for him could be done only by the group of traitors opposed to reunification.

In fact, the south Korean authorities should be incriminated for their hindrance to the reunification event common to the nation, which was to be held in Pyongyang on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the June 15 joint declaration.

The action against Rev. Han is not mere suppression of him. It is an unpardonable deed designed to check the improvement of north-south relations and escalate confrontation and tension between compatriots and thus attain a sinister purpose.

It is none other than the south Korean conservative group that should be tried and punished for their stand against reunification and patriotism and desperate moves for confrontation and war against fellow countrymen in the north.