The statement accused the judicial authorities of making a decision to cancel the registration of Jaju Minbo, on charges that it posted literature benefiting enemy and an article dealing with the suspicion that the regime was concealing the cause of the ferry Sewol accident.

This is a hideous action of trampling down the right of the people by invoking the "Security Law" and stamping out the media, it charged.

It said Jaju Minbo is the media for reunification and patriotism which has worked hard to implement the June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration, landmarks for reunification.

The progressive and fair-minded people of all social standings in south Korea strongly condemn the authorities' decision to close Jaju Minbo, it said, stressing that it would struggle to achieve the freedom of expression and press and bring earlier the independent reunification of the country.