The organization in a commentary on January 23 recalled that the Seoul Central District Court sentenced him to five years in prison and five-year suspension of qualifications.

It was very just that Rev. Han visited the north with warm compatriotic feelings and ardent desire for reunification, the commentary said.

It is an anti-reunification act that the authorities sentenced him to heavy penalty on charges of violation of the "National Security Law", an unprecedented fascist law, it added.

It urged the present regime to release Rev. Han and immediately respond to the north's sincere and important proposal for dialogue and negotiations.