North Korea could be classified as anti-state entity, nominee says

Dec. 20 (UPI) -- A candidate for South Korea's supreme court said Wednesday the North Korean regime of Kim Jong Un could be included in a list of anti-state organizations.

Min Yu-suk, 52, said at her confirmation hearing before South Korea's national assembly North Korea could be included in a South Korean list of anti-state organizations.

North Korea has stated on repeated occasions it is a sovereign nation under the rule of Kim Jong Un, the chairman of the Korean Workers' Party.

Single-party rule in North Korea means Kim's position of power cannot be contested, and voices of opposition are not tolerated by the regime.

But North Korea "can be interpreted as being included" in the list of anti-state groups, Min said, without referring to it as a country, according to Yonhap.

Min also said there is a continued need for South Korea's National Security Act, a law that has been used by previous South Korean administrations, including former President Park Geun-hye, to charge opponents of engaging in anti-state activities.

The originally anti-communist law now includes a clause that forbids its use in a way that violates the rights of citizens guaranteed under the South Korean constitution.

Min is one of two supreme court nominees.

In the course of her hearing on Wednesday, the candidate also said a "ban on homosexuality" does not resolve issues, but she did not clarify whether she was referring to gay marriage or strict requirements in the South Korean military.

South Korea's army can discharge soldiers for homosexual acts, and gay marriages are not legally recognized in the country.

South Korea's human rights commission in a separate statement said it welcomes the adoption of a North Korean human rights resolution at the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly, which took place on Tuesday.

Newsis reported the commission's chair Lee Seong-ho said he welcomed the statement because it addresses concerns regarding South Korean citizens who continue to be detained in the North.