By Kim Rahn

The prosecution has indicted a 54-year-old man with physical detention on charges of breach of the National Security Law by spreading praise of North Korea through posts on Twitter.

It is the first time here that a social network service has been used to circulate pro-North Korea material indiscriminately, according to prosecutors Tuesday.

The man, surnamed Cho, allegedly posted 63 text messages and video clips praising North Korea’s military-oriented politics and hereditary power succession from its current leader Kim Jong-il to his son Jong-un between last August and December on several portal sites and the two online journals he operates.

He allegedly wrote articles such as “Long live Kim Il-sung, the mighty sun of human beings,” and “Hurrah for Kim Jong-un, a standard-bearer to establish correct basic” on a pro-North Korea online community.

Cho obtained most of the articles and clips from North Korea’s official website “Uriminzokkiri.” Some of the articles described the sinking of the warship, Cheonan as an incident fabricated by South Korea and the U.S., and the attack on Yeonpyeong Island as a warning against the South’s provocative shooting, according to the prosecution.

He also allegedly retweeted such writings to about 3,000 of his followers. Cho told prosecutors that he posted those articles out of discontent with South Korean society and a longing for the North Korean system.

“We see more pro-North Korea writings and video footage spread through social network services, which have a strong and immediate power of circulation. We’ll tighten the crackdowns on those services,” a prosecutor said.