Pyongyang, December 10 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the Journalists Union of Korea (JUK) Central Committee Saturday made public a statement denouncing the ultra-right conservative media for resorting to undisguised arbitrary practices under the patronage of the south Korean puppet authorities.

The statement said:

The south Korean authorities are toughening suppression of progressive media while exploiting reactionary ultra-right conservative media in tiding over the ruling crisis in the face of the people's anti-"government" sentiment.

Chosun Ilbo, Choongang Ilbo, Dong-A Ilbo and Maeil Kyongje and other conservative newspapers of south Korean took control of the wired TV channel and began service from Dec. 1 backed by the authorities.

In the past the conservative papers deceived people and misled the public opinion by carrying false and deceptive news stories in the papers only. But now they monopolized the wired TV channel, means of a big role in building up public opinion. This created an abnormal situation whereby treachery and injustice insult patriotism and justice in south Korea.

South Korean opposition parties and different social strata including media protested against the starting of the wired TV channel describing it as "conservative forces' attempt to monopolize media market", "a gimmick to prolong the remaining days of the present regime" and "a sordid scenario aimed at victory in general election and presidential elections". Other TV broadcasting agencies and newspapers strongly rebuffed the move by denying the production of broadcasting materials and putting blank ads.

By use of ultra-right media the puppet authorities seek to build up public opinions in favor of them and tide over the ruling crisis and evade the people's punishment in the National Assembly election and "presidential" elections due next year.

The JUK Central Committee in the name of all the journalists and mediapersons of the DPRK bitterly denounced the arbitrariness practiced by the south Korean conservative media as an unpardonable crime abusing justice, truth, mindset and conscience of people and a despicable move to turn south Korean society rightwing and fascist.

It went on to say:

Media is a mouthpiece for justice, conscience and truth and harbinger of the era.

If the authorities' moves to grasp media and the arbitrary practices of conservative media agencies following them are overlooked, justice, conscience and truth will be violated and injustice, treachery, confrontation and anti-reunification moves will stalk in south Korea.

South Korean mediapersons and other people from all walks of life should never allow the moves of the authorities keen on staying in power by putting media on government payroll and rendering it reactionary, and the hackwork of ultra-right conservative writers.

All the mediapersons of south Korea should denounce the authorities' sycophantic, traitorous and fascist confrontation moves against reunification with the just writing brushes, patriotic microphones and radio waves for independence and democracy. They should also decisively shatter the authorities' ambition to remain in office and deal heavy blows to the ultra-right conservative media groups serving the power as a waiting maid.

The authorities and conservative media agencies should clearly understand that arbitrariness, deception and intrigues going against the mindset of people will only bring stronger denunciation, protest and miserable end.